UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Jjarlington Alemorial L/ibrary
/^'72/0'
^
Wir^LIAM Al.«KIOOK
PORTRAITS, MEMOIRS,
REMARKABLE PERSONS,
FROM THE
REVOLUTION in 1688
TO THE
END OF THE REIGN OF GEORGE II.
COLLECTED FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC
ACCOUNTS EXTANT.
JAMES CAULFIELD.
N FOUR VOLUMES,
VOL. I.
LONDON:
PUBLISHED BY H. R. YOUNG, 56, PATERNOSTER-ROW
AND
T. H. WHITELY, 103, NEWGATE-STREET.
1819.
W. Levviii, Printer, Finch-lane, Cornhill.
^V1
ADVERTISEMENT.
There are no description of persons who
excite public curiosity more than those who
have been ushered into notice by circum-
stances of peculiar notoriety, particularly
such as have not been restrained by the laws
of their country, or influenced by the common
obligations of society. Men, whose daring
enterprise and deep cunning might, properly
cultivated, and differently directed, have ren-
dered them the brightest ornaments of the age
in which they lived ; and Whitney, JackShep-
pard, or Turpin, (common thieves) instead of
the ignominious fate which attended them,
might have emulated the extolled deeds of
a Marlborough or a Wellington ; and, like
them, have enjoyed similar honors. As might
Bamfylde Moore Careiv, in negociation and
VOL. 1. a
VI ADVERTISEMENT.
contrivance, have equalled or excelled Lord
Castlereagli or Mr. George Canning; and why
not George Marrington, for ingenuity and
ability, as a counsellor, have vied with any
advocate or pleader who has distinguished
himself at the bar. Of another description of
persons, James Bick the mimic trum/peter,
and Isaac the celebrated Oxford Grinner,
might, if exhibited on a public stage, have
been formidable rivals in repute with Mathews
and Grimaldi.
Very different are the multitude who are
noticed only as instances of the deviation
of nature, such as giants, dwarfs, strong men,
personal deformity, &c. In like manner are
distinguished those persons who have lived
to an extraordinary age ; others, as empirics
and quacks, buffoons, prize-fighters, and ad-
venturers, serve but to fill up the class of
Remarkable Characters ; and if eccentricity
of manners characterises another description
ADVERTISEMENT. Vll
em
of persons, that very eccentricity entitles th
to a place in the present work.
The period in which many of the persons
lived who are commemorated in this under-
taking, is perhaps the most eventful in the
annals of British history. England witnessed
the ascent to its throne of two different
families, in the short space of twenty-six years.
The revolution of 1688 gave to the country,
as its king, William Prince of Orange, after-
wards William III. and, on the demise of
Queen Anne, the succession was vested in
the house of Brunswick, by the accession of
George I. Party-strife ran so high on this
event taking place, that it ultimately ended
in open rebellion. And, men of the most
exalted rank, and of the highest consideration
in the country, were, with numbers of infe-
rior note, alike made examples of; and the
axe and the gibbet became as much in re-
a2
Till ADVERTISEMENT.
quest as when the strife for sovereignty ex-
isted between the contending houses of York
and Lancaster.
It is an extraordinary circumstance, that
among the many collected lives of highway-
men, and other notorious offenders, that what-
ever embellishments by plates, which have hi-
therto accompanied the accounts, they have
invariably been given from the invention of
the artist, without the least regard to the
personal resembkaice of the party described
in the narrative. In Johnson's history of
highwaymen, &c. (now an uncommon book,)
though embellished with numerous and ex-
pensive plates, there is not one through-
out the work that is a faithful representation
of the person, even in the article of dress,
much less of their physiognomy and general
character. MnlVd Sack, the German Prin-
cess, Whitney, Jonathan Wild, Jack Shep-
ADVERTISEMENT. IX
pard, and Sarah Malcolm's transactions, are
delineated entirely by scenic views of their
robberies and subsequent executions.
The only cause that can be assigned for
this palpable error, is the uncommon rarity
of the true prints. That of MulPd Sack,
in particular, has been sold ata public auction
for upwards of forty guineas ; Whitney,
copied in this collection, is considered to
be unique ; William Joy, the English sam-
son ; Jonathan Wild, with the ticket to his
funeral ; Turpin in his cave ; Old Harry^
with his raree-show ; Guy, founder of Guy^s
Hospital, writing his will ; and many others,
interspersed throughout the work, are like-
wise taken from originals of the greatest
scarcity and value ; and not a life or cha-
racter is recorded, but is accompanied by a
portrait of unquestioned authenticity.
JAMES CAULFIELD.
CONTENTS.
REIGN OF WILLIAM III.
Page
Aldsidge, William, an aged Wheelwright . . 1
Atkins, William, an eccentric Gout-doctor , . 3
Baskerville, Thomas, a whimsical Enthusiast . . 6
Bigg, John, the Dinton Hermit . . .9
Brown, Thomas, a Facetious Writer . . .12
D'Urfey, Thomas, a Humorous Poet . . .16
Fenwick, Sir John, executed for High-treason . . 19
Gale, John, a singular Deaf and Dumb Man . . 25
Hermon, Philip, a visionary Quaker , . 28
Johnston, Sir John, executed for stealing an Heiress . 31
Joy, William, the Enghsh Samson . . .37
Radclifte, John, an extraordinary Physician . . 44
Rymer, Thomas, a Critic and Compiler " . . .50
Tryon, Thomas, a singular Enthusiast . . . 54
Whitney, James, an extraordinary Highwayman . . 57
REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE.
.^sop of Eton, a rhyming Cobler . . .73
Bick, James, a Mimic Trumpeter . • .75
Britton, Thomas, a Musical Small Coal-man . . 77
Burgess, Daniel, a Pulpit Buffoon . . .83
Carstairs, William, a subtle Dissembler . . 87
CONTENTS.
Page
Dennis, John, a sour and severe Critic . . . 89
-Ellis, William, an Idiot . , . . .94
Evans, Henry, an aged Welshman . . .96
Fletcher, Andrew, a turbulent Republican . . . 99
Defoe, Daniel, a Political Writer and Novelist , . 104
Granny, a drunken half-blind Woman , . . 108
Hardman, John, a singular Corn-cutter . • .111
Harry, an Old Raree-show-man . • .114
Hart, Nicholas, a Great Sleeper . • .117
Isaac, the Oxford Grinner . . . 121
Keiling, John, an extraordinary Street Musician . . 123
King Edward, Abel Roper's Man . . .125
Poro, James, an extraordinary Twin . . . 134
Yorkshire Nan, Prince George's Cap Woman . . 137
Read, Sir William, a Quack Oculist . . . 139
Roper Abel, a Political Bookseller . . . 142
Sacheverel, Henry, a Seditious Preacher . . 148
Scrimshaw, Jane, an aged Pauper . . .152
Tutchin, John, a Seditious Writer . . , 154
Valerius, John, born without arras . . . 158
White, Jeremiah, humorous chaplain to Oliver Cromwell . 168
MEMOIRS
REMARKABLE PERSONS.
w^im&m mtftitfof.
[WILLIAM III.
It very often happens that we are indebted to the
casual circumstance of a person living to a great age,
personal deformity, size, or other chances, for the
perpetuity of their likenesses being handed down to
posterity. Such was the case with William Aldridge,
in whose character there appears nothing more parti-
cular than of his living to the very advanced age of
1 14 years. He was by profession a wheelwright, and
resided at Acton, in Middlesex, and was buried
there November 21st, 1698.
The portrait from which this print was engraved,
was painted two years before his death, and was in
the possession of his great grandson, Mr. Thomas
VOL. I. B
MEMOIRS OF
[WILLIAM III.
Aldridge, vestry-clerk of Acton parish, where the
family have been established upwards of a century.
The portrait has the appearance of a hale man of
sixty, rather than that of 112, which was his age
at the period it was painted. He was buried under
a tomb in the cemetery, the inscription upon which
gives his age one year older.
• «
»•
WlT/L^:' ATKIXS,
(GoTit Doctor.
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 3
fflJSilKam mfeinjs,
THE GOUT DOCTOR.
Of all the diseases incident to the human frame
the Gout, (to those who are afflicted with it,) is the
most vexatious, painful, and tormenting in the cata-
logue of evils attendant on man; and no complaint
has created more quacks, to tamper with, and poison
the constitution with sovereign remedies, than this.
Among the first-rate of these empirics may rank
William Atkins, " whose renovating elixir restored
pristine youth and vigour to the patient, however old
or decayed," and whose vivifying drops infallibly cured
imbecility in men, and barrenness in women ; he re-
sided in the Old Bailey, and was (in his own conceit)
the Solomon of the day ; his bills exceeded all others,
in extravagant assertions and impudence ; he even had
the audacity to declare he had raised a woman from a
fit of the dead-palsy, and rendered her capable of walk-
ing immediately.
This wonderful great man was short in stature, fat,
and waddled as he walked ; he always wore a white
B 9
4 MEMOIRS OF [wiluam m.
three-tailed wig, nicely combed and frizzed upon each
cheek. He generally carried a cane, but a hat never.
He was represented on the top of his own bills
sitting in an arm-chair, holding a bottle between
his finger and thumb, surrounded with rotten-teeth,
nippers, pills, packets, and gally-pots.
Atkins boasted of his humility in using a hackney-
coach instead of keeping one of his own ; but
what would he have said, or thought, had he lived in
the present times, to see that carriages and equipage
»ire as essential in the trade of a quack-doctor, as the
distribution of their hand-bills in every street
throughout the metropolis ; nay, most of these gentry
that are successful, have their country-seats and
parks ; and, in their tables and company, vie with
the first nobility, and people of rank and fashion ;
Gilead House, the seat of Dr. Solomon, near Li-
verpool, has been deemed important enough to be
engraved and published, to adorn the Beauties of
England.
Some of Atkins's medicines were composed of
thirty different ingrediepts ! what hope remained for
an individual assailed by so many enemies united ?
A few years since flourished, near Leicester-square, a
German quack, Dr. Delalina, who pretended to
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 5
eradicate the gout from any person, however aged or
infirm, in six visits. — The well-known French remedy
has been found, by sad experience, not only to era-
dicate the gout, but likewise the lives of most persons
who have been desperate enough to venture on that
fatal remedy.
MEMOIRS OF [WILLIAM in.
This whimsical enthusiast, who affected manners
and habits peculiarly his own, was born and resided
at a place called Bayworth, in the parish of Sunning-
well, near Abingdon. — In his younger days he was
considered a person of learning and curious research,
and was author of a journal of his own travels through
a great part of England, in the years 1677 and 1678,
still existing in manuscript. — He was well known to
the Oxford Students, who, from his dry, droll, and
formal appearance, gave him the nickname of the
King of Jerusalem^ he being of a religious turn,
and constantly speaking of that heavenly city ; a pre-
tention to inherit which, he founded on what he styled
his regeneration or second birth, in the year 1666, as
may be gathered from his own poetic lines, inserted
under his portrait : —
As shadows Jly, so houres dye.
And dayes do span the age of man;
In Month oj August twenty-nine, \
I first began my Mourning time, >
Thonsand six hundred and ninety-nine. y
TH OMAS BA S KERVI J.I.K
^ ♦
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 7
Yet I drudge on as said before,
Ther's Time, ichen Time shall be no more.
A second Birth I had I say,
January Eleventh day.
In that circle Fifty-two Weeks,
Thousand Six hundred Sixty-six
A ray of Light I saw that day.
Enter my heart with heat and joy.
Saying these words unto me then
King of Jerusalem.
The immber of Sectaries that sprung up at the
period Baskerville lived, without question bewildered
a brain naturally not very strong ; Fox the Quaker,
Naylor the blasphemer, Venner the Fifth Monarchy-
man, Muggleton, and a whole tribe of Schismatic
pretenders to new-born lights, had each their several
followers ; to one party or other it may naturally be
imagined Baskerville inclined ; or he might probably
feel inspired, similar with Swendenbourg of latter
days, to convey disciples to the new Jerusalem, by a
path unknown to any other than himself.
His portrait, which exhibits a meagre, long, and
mortified countenance, was engraved when he was
in his 70th year. Over his monogram BiE is in-
scribed two lines, doubtless of his own editing: —
Once I was alive, and had flesh to thrive.
But now I am a skellitan. at 70.
8
MEMOIRS OF
[WILLIAM III.
He affected most of the singularities which natu-
rally adhere to reclusive and habitual retirement, and
lived to a very advanced age, dying about the year
1705.
Many of his MSS. went with the Harleian col-
lection to the British Museum.
;jfi))0 3^ :Bic^.-€r
(Tlic Diiiton IleriiQit
WILLIAM III] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
THE DINTON HERMIT.
Many men from necessity, not choice, have as-
sumed singular habits and manners, which have, from
time immemorial, amused and instructed mankind :
such a being was John Bigg. — Disappointed (no
doubt) in his prospects through life, he became sulky,
and adopted a way of life he thought peculiarly his
own ; in that, however, he was mistaken ; as others,
previoustohis time, had taken the same course; witness
the hermits of La Trappe, Roger Crabb, of Uxbridge,
who lived on three-farthings per day, and other sin-
gular humourists, among whom may be remembered,
of late days, Simon Eady the pauper of St. Giles's,
with Mathews the Dulwich Hermit, found some few
years back murdered in his cave. All that is left as
a memorial of Bigg is the following: — John Bigg,
the Dinton Hermit, baptized 22d of April, 1629,
buried 4th of April, I696. Browne Willis gives the
particulars of this man out of a letter written to him
VOL. I. c " •
10 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
by Thomas Hearne, dated Oxon, Feb. 12, 1719.
He was formerly clerk to Simon Mayne, of Dinton,
one of the judges who passed sentence on King
Charles I. He lived at Dinton (county Bucks,) in a
cave, had been a man of tolerable wealth, was looked
upon as a pretty good scholar, and of no contemptible
parts. Upon the restoration he grew melancholy,
betook himself to a recluse life, and lived by charity,
but never asked for any thing but leather, which he
would immediately nail to his cloathes. He kept
three bottles, that hung to his girdle, viz. for strong
and small beer, and milk : his shoes are still pre-
served ; they are very large, and made up of about a
thousand patches of leather ; one of them is in the
Bodlean Repository, the other in the collection of Sir
John Vanhatten, of Dinton, who had his cave dug
up some years since, in hopes of discovering some-
thing relative to him, but without success. The
print of him is done from a picture in the possession
of Scroop Bernard, Esq. of Nether Winchendon,
Bucks. Some time since it was reported the cele-
brated Margravine of Anspach proffered to any person
who would lead a recluse life, five hundred pounds
annuity for life ; if, after a period of seven years
(during which time they were to have no converse, or
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
11
see mankind, and suffer their hair and nails to grow
untouched) they survived, but it does not appear any
one was desperate enough in circumstances to un-
dergo the ordeal. — It has been said a man endured
this kind of life four years, but gave it up in despair.
C 2
12 MEMOIRS OF [wilLiam hi.
Thomas (commonly called Tom,) Brown was
the son of a considerable farmer of ShifFnall, in
Shropshire, and educated at Newport-school, in that
county ; from whence he was removed to Christ-
church, in Oxford, where he soon distinguished
himself by his uncommon attainments in literature.
He had great parts and quickness of apprehension,
nor does it appear that he was wanting in application ;
for we are told, that he was very well skilled in
the Latin, Greek, French, Italian, and Spanish lan-
guages, even before he was sent to Oxford. The ir-
regularities of his life did not suffer him, however,
to continue long at the university, but when obliged
to quit it, he took advantage of a remittance sent by
his indulgent father, and thinking he had a sufficiency
of wit and learning, left Oxford for the capital, in
hopes of making his fortune some way or other there.
This scheme did not answer, and he was very soon
in danger of starving; upon which he made interest
to be school-master of Kingston-upon-Tliames, in
which pursuit he succeeded. But this was a profes-
THOMAS 11R0'W:N
WILLIAM iTi.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 13
sion very unsuitable to a man of his turn, and a
situation that must needs have been extremely dis-
agreeable to him ; and therefore we cannot wonder,
that he soon quitted this school, and returned again
to London, where, finding his old companions more
delighted with his humour than ready to relieve his
necessities, he had recourse to his pen, and became
an author, and partly a libeller, by profession. He
wrote a great variety of pieces, under the names of
dialogues, letters, poems, &c. in all which he disco-
vered no small erudition, and a vast and exuberant
vein of humour; for he was in his writings, as in his
conversation, always lively and facetious. In the
mean time he made no other advantage of these pro-
ductions than what he derived from the booksellers ;
for though they raised his reputation, and made his
company sought after, yet, as he possessed less of the
gentleman than wits usually do, and more of the
scholar, so he was not apt to choose his acquaintance
by interest, but was more solicitous to be recom-
mended to the ingenious who might admire, than
to the great who might relieve him. An anony-
mous author, who has given the world some account
of Mr. Brown, says, that though a good-natured man,
he had one pernicious quality, which was, rather to
14 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
lose his friend than his joke. He had a particular
genius for satire, and dealt it out liberally Avhenever
he could find occasion. He is famed for being the
author of a libel, fixed one Sunday morning on the
doors of Westminster-abbey ; and of many others,
against the clergy and quality. He used to treat
religion very lightly, and would often say, that he
understood the world better than to have the im-
putation of righteousness laid to his charge ; yet, upon
the approach of death, his heart misgave him, and he
began to express sentiments of remorse for his past
hfe.
Towards the latter end of Brown^s life, we are
informed by Mr. Jacob, that he was in favor with the
Earl of Dorset, who invited him to dinner on a
Christmas-day, with Dryden, and some other men of
genius ; when Brown, to his agreeable surprize, found
a bank-note of 50/. under his plate ; and Dryden at
the same time was presented with another of 100/.
Brown died in 1704, and was interred in the cloister
of Westminster-abbey, near the remains of Mrs.
Behn, with whom he was intimate in his life-time.
His whole works were printed in 1707, consisting of
dialogues, essays, declamations, satires, letters from
the dead to the living, translations, amusements, &c.
WILLIAM HI] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
16
in 4 vols.; there are several other editions of his works,
but all have become scarce, and have not been re-
printed for many years ; indeed, the indelicacy of many
of his pieces preclude the likelihood of their ever
appearing collectively before the public in a new
edition; his remains, in 2 vols, are very rare to be
met with, and abound with as much ribaldry and ob-
scenit}^ as his other productions. Tom Brown thought
it the pinnacle of excellence to be thought " a merry
fellow," and therefore laid out his powers upon
small jests or gross buffoonery, so that his perform-
ances have little intrinsic value, and were read only
while they were recommended by the novelty of the
event that occasioned them. AV'hat sense or know-
ledge his works contain is disgraced by the garb in
which it is exhibited. The Rev. Mr. Noble says, he
died in great poverty.
16 MEMOIRS OF [william ih.
^I&omajs WWivfts*
Thomas D'Urfey, Esq. was originally intended
to have been brought up to the bar, but possessing
too much wit to confine himself to that dry study,
and too httle to niake a shining character in any
other, experienced all the varied fortunes of men
who have not great abilities, and who trust entirely
to their pens for their support and appearance through
life. Very little more is known of D'Urfey's origin
and family than that he was a native of Devonshire.
His plays, which are numerous, were in their day
acted with considerable applause, but the low wit
and humour with which they abound, would not suit
the taste of the present enlightened generation. He
was, besides, author of many small Poems, the chief
of which are collected in his most celebrated work
of " Wit and Mirth, or Pills to purge Melancholy,^^
in 6 vols. 12mo. which have now become extremely
scarce. He has been compared to Colley Gibber,
but their wit and humour were widely different.
Gibber's writings keeping their reputation to the
THOMAS B'lTitFEY.
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS, t1
present day, and are as much read as ever. D'Urfey
was admitted to great familiarity with King Charles the
Second, and that merry monarch would often lean
on his shoulder, and hum a tune with him ;
he has frequently amused and entertained Queeil
Anne, by singing catches and glees ; yet, with all his
gaiety and high acquaintance, poor Tom was always
in straitened circumstances ; as a Tory he was very
much caressed and beloved by his party, yet he was
esteemed and respected by the Whigs.
The Author of the prologue to D'Urfey's last
play thus speaks of him : —
" Though Tom the poet writ with ease and pleasure^
" The comic Tom abounds in other treasure."
Addison was well acquainted with him, and oftetl
pleaded successfully for his friend, when he became
aged and in decayed circumstances ^ — in one of his
papers he remarks, " He has made the world merry j
and I hope they will make him easy, as long as he
stays among us. This," adds he, " I will take upon
me to say, they cannot do a kindness to a more cheer-
ful, honest, good-natured man." D*Urfey died at a
good old age, February 26, 1723, and was buried in
the cemetery of St. James's Church, Westminster.
VOL. I, D
18
MEMOIRS OF
X^ILLIAM MI.
D'Urfey and Bello, a musician, had high words at
Epsom, and swords were resorted to, but with great
caution. A brother wit maliciously compared this
rencounter with that mentioned in Sir Philip Sidney's
Arcadia, between Clinias and Dametas.
I sing of a duel in Epsom befel
'Twixt fa sol la D'Urfey and sol la mi Bell :
But why do I mention the scribbling brother?
For naming the one, you may guess at the other.
Betwixt them there happened a terrible clutter.
Bell set up the loud pipes, and D'Urfey did splutter.
" Draw Bell, wert thou Dragon, I'd spoil thy soft notes :"
" Thy squalling said t'other, for I'll cut thy throat."
With a scratch on the finger the duel's dispatch'd;
Thy Clinias (O Sidney) was never so match'd.
%'• •/ .;
.^inii Jonw FKH^'f^c^K,
( Bel.oado.l on Tawrr Hill Ui97. )
WILLIAM HI.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 19
Sir John Fen wick, of Fen wick Castle, in the
county of Northumberland, Bart, a man of consider-
able abilities, but of a profligate and restless disposition,
commanded a regiment in the service of William III.
when Prince of Orange, in 1676. He was apprehended
in Kent, when on his way to France, upon suspicion
of being engaged in a plot to assassinate the king.
On his being taken into custody, he wrote a letter
to his lady, setting forth his misfortune, and giving
himself for dead, unless powerful applications could
be made for him, or that some of the jury could
be hired to starve out the rest ; and to tliat he added,
this or nothing can save my life. This letter was
taken from the person to whom he had given it : at
his first examination, before the lords-justices, he
denied every thing, till he was shewed this letter ;
and then he was confounded. In his private treaty
with the Duke of Devonshire, he desired an assurance
of life, upon his promise to tell all he knew ; but
the king refused that, and would have it left to him^
D 2
20 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
self to judge of the truth and the importance of the
discoveries he should make. So he, resolving to
cast himself on the king's mercy, sent him a paper, in
which, after a bare account of the consultations among
the Jacobites (in which he took care to charge none of
his own party,) he said, that King James, and those
who were employed by him, had assured them, that
both the Earls of Shreimhury and Marlborough^ the
Lord Godolphin, and Admiral Russell, were reconciled
to him, and were now in his interests, and acting for
him. This was a discovery that could signify nothing,
but to give the king a jealousy of those persons ; for
he did not offer the least shadow or circumstance,
either of proof, or of presumption, to support this ac-
cusation. The king, not being satisfied herewith, sent
an order for bringing him to a trial, unless he made
other discoveries. He desired to be further examined
by the lords-justices, to whom he, being upon oath,
told some more particulars, but hfe took care to name
none of his own side, but those against whom evidence
was already brought, or who were safe and beyond
sea ; some few others he named, in matters of less
consequence, that did not amount to high-treason ;
he owned a thread of negotiations that had passed
between them and King James, or the court of France ;
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 21
he said the Earl of Aylesbury had gone over to France,
and had been admitted to a private audience with the
French king, where he had proposed the sending over
an army of 30,000 men ; and had undertaken that a
great body of gentlemen and horses should be brought
to join them ; it appeared, by his discoveries, that the
Jacobites in England were much divided. Some were
called compounders, and others non-compounders.
The first sort desired securities from King James, for
the preservation of the religion and liberties of Eng-
land ; whereas, the second sort were for trusting him
upon discretion, without asking any terms, putting
all in his power, and relying entirely on his honor
and generosity. These seemed, indeed, to act more
suitably to the great principle upon which they all
insisted, that kings have their power from God, and
are accountable only to him for the exercise of it.
Dr. Lloyd, the deprived Bishop of Norwich, was the
only eminent clergyman who joined in this; and,
therefore, all that party had, upon Saticroffs death, re-
commended him to King James, to have his nomina-
tion for Canterbury. Fenwick put all this in writing,
upon assurance that he should not be forced to wit-
ness any part of it. When that was sent to the king,
all appearing to be so trifling, and no other proof being
22 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
offered for any part of it, except his own word, which
he had stipulated should not be made use of, his ma-
jesty sent an order to bring him to his trial. But as
the king was slow in sending this order, so the Duke
of Devonshire, who had been in the secret manage-
ment of the matter, was for some time in the country.
The lords-justices delayed the matter till he came
to town ; and then the king's coming was so near, that
it was respited till he came over. By these delays
Fenwick gained his main design, which was to practice
upon the witnesses.
His lady began with Porter ; he was offered, that
if he would go beyond sea, he should have a good
sum in hand, and an annuity secured to him for his
life ; he listened so far to the proposition, that he
drew those who were in treaty with him, together
with the lady herself, who carried the sum that he was
to receive, to a meeting, where he had provided wit-
nesses who should over-hear all that passed, and
should, upon a signal, come in and seize them with
the money ; which was done, and a prosecution upon
it was ordered. The fact was fully proved, and the
persons concerned in it were censured and punished :
so Porter was no more to be dealt with. — Goodman
was the other witness ; First, they gathered matter to
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 23
defame him, in which his wicked course of life fur-
nished them very copiously ; but they trusted not to
this method, but betook themselves to another, in
which they prevailed more effectually ; they per-
suaded him to go out of England ; and, by this means,
when the last orders were given for Fen wick's trial,
there were not two witnesses against him. So, by
the course of law, he must have been acquitted ; the
whole was upon this kept entire for the session of Par-
liament. The king sent to the House of Commons
the two papers that Fenwick had sent him ; Fen-
wick was brought before the house ; but he refused
to give any farther account of the matter contained in
them, and they were rejected as false and scandalous,
made only to create jealousies ; and ordered a bill of
attainder to be brought against him, which met with
great opposition in both houses, in every step that
was made. In conclusion, the bill passed by a small
majority of only seven in the House of Lords : The
royal assent was soon given to it, and Fenwick then
made all possible applications to the king for a re-
prieve ; and, as a main ground for that, and as an article
of merit, related how he had saved the king's life, two
years before ; but as this fact could not be proved, so
it could confer no obligation on the king, since he had
given him no warning of his danger ; and, according to
24 MEMOIRS OF [william in.
his own story, had trusted the conspirators' words very
easily, when they promised to pursue their design
no farther, which he had no reason to do. Fenwick,
seeing no hope was left, prepared himself to die ; he
desired the assistance of one of the deprived bishops,
which was not granted, but he was attended by Bishop
Burnet. He was beheaded on Tower-hill, January 23,
1697, aged 52; and was buried near the altar, in the
church of St. Martin's in the Fields, London, with
his three sons. Sir John, though a very profligate
character, and an indifferent husband, was yet so ten-
derly beloved by his lady, that no stratagem was
omitted by her to save him that love could invent, or
duty practice. She even erected a monument, in
York Cathedral, to perpetuate his memory. She was
Lady Mary, eldest daughter of Charles Howard, Earl
of Carlisle. Happily their only daughter, Jane, as
well as all their sons, died very young. He died very
composed, and left a paper in writing, wherein he
did not deny the facts that had been sworn against
him, but complained of the injustice of the procedure,
and left his thanks to those who had voted against
the bill. He owned his loyalty to King James, and
to the Prince of Wales after him. But mentioned
the design of assassinating King William in terms full
of horror.
lOHN.GALE
altos
WILLIAM ID.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 25
alias
DUiMBJACK.
John Gale, otherwise Dumb Jack, noticed by
the Rev. Mark Noble as an unfortunate person,
appears rather to have been a felicitous character,
enjoying life, while he lived in a way peculiar to
himself. Mr. Noble, who had the use of Granger's
valuable papers, names him as an ideot, and deaf
and dumb into the bargain, " so much for the learned
and Reverend Gentleman ;" but it does not always
follow, that a deprivation of one faculty entails the
party afflicted with lack of others ; on the contrary,
we know the blind, in general, have a nicety in
feeling greatly beyond those blessed with sight.^
* I knew a gentleman, Mr. Francis Linley, organist of Pen-
tonville Chapel, Clerkcnwell, from his birth blind, whose greatest
amusement was to explore church-yards, and with his fingers
trace out memorials of the dead from tomb-stones; indeed, the
fineness of his touch would lead him to know a book from the
lettering at the back of a volume: and could, without a guide,
make his way throughout the bustling streets of London.
VOL. I. E
26 MEMOIRS OF [william iit.
John Gale had a something so remarkably uncouth
in his physiognomy and manner, that he attracted
general notice wherever he appeared. He lived prin-
cipally in the neighbourhood of Clare-market, where
he picked up a maintenance among the butchers,
and other tradesmen thereabouts, by helping to
drive cattle and carrying heavy loads of meat, and
other servile employments of that nature. Being
perfectly harmless, he was rather under protection
of the mob, than, as is too often the case with un-
happy objects of this description, exposed to their
unfeeling scoffs and abuse. He always wore his
hat in a particular direction ; so much on one side,
as hardly to keep its place on his head, and was
seldom seen without a pipe in his mouth. Tobacco
and ale were his two grand animal gratifications ;
and his highest mental enjoyment seemed to be that
of witnessing the public execution of criminals,
whom he constantly accompanied from the gaol to
Tyburn, riding on the copse of the cart, and smoking
his pipe with perfect decorum the whole way, un-
moved at the passing scene, while
Clever Tom Clinch as the rabble was bawling,
Was riding up Holborn to die in his calling;
And the maids to the windows and balconies ran,
Apd cry'd out, Alack! he's a proper young man \
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
27
From this circumstance Dumb Jack (his general and
familiar appellation,) became universally known ; and
from the many prints of him extant, it was not wished
the remembrance of him should perish ; his form too
existing on walking sticks, and on tobacco-stoppers,
both of wood and metal, many of which still are to
be found in the cabinets of the curious. Mr. Noble
regrets the pen of the biographer was wanting to the
fame of poor Jack, and very gravely remarks his igno-
rance, whether he died by violence from a ruffian,
while sleeping on a bulk in the streets, or of disease
in a garret, or hospital ; but, it is reasonable to con-
jecture, he came to his end in a similar way with
other mortals, a gradual decay of nature.
E 2
28 MEMOIRS OF [wiiLiAM IIT.
mttiP Itemon.
Philip Hermon was one of those visionary
enthusiasts among the people called Quakers, that
pretended to possess lights unknown to the rest of
mankind; and, through holding forth this doctrine to
others, at length brought himself to imagine he was
inspired by a divine spirit, to become a teacher and
prophet, to guide and collect the stray-lambs that had
wandered from the fold of the righteous. — The Quakers
had been stigmatized during the Protectorate of
Oliver Cromwell, and the reign of Charles the Second,
for their perverse spirit, false doctrine, and lying pro-
phets. In 1653, one Hannah Trapnel, residing at an
ordinary in Whitehall, set up the trade of inspiration,
praying for the Lord Protector, and that God would
keep him close to himself, and deliver him from carnal
councils. It was said she M^as in a trance while pray-
ing, but, at the expiration of a fortnight, she recovered
sufficiently to take her journey homeward to Dunbar •'
and, in December, 1655, the same woman went to
St. Maws, in Cornwall, to visit one Carew, a prisoner
P-Hlt-IP HBUMON
( Qixaker
WILLIAM iiT.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 29
there, and had in company with her three fellows,
one having a sword : this party was stopped by a
trooper, who informed them he had orders from the
Lord Protector to disarm all Cavaliers ; to this they
replied, Thy Lord Protector we oian 7iot, thou art of
the army of the beast. The Governor of Pendinnis
sent for the woman, but she refused to attend: on
which an order was given to follow, and bring her
before a justice of peace at Penryn.
About the same time, James Naylor, who had been
converted to Quakerism by George Fox, took upon
himself the character of the Messiah, and pretended
to heal the sick, and raise the dead, and was for this
offence most severely and most deservedly punished.
Near the latter end of the reign of Charles the
Second, one John Kelsey undertook the laudable
task of converting the grand Signior to the Quakino-
principles^ and actually made his way to Constanti-
nople for that purpose ; a good bastinado on the soles
of his feet, as a recompence for his trouble, could not,
however, effectually wean him from the pursuit of his
mission, and he was secured per force, and sent on
board a ship to convey him to England.
It is not very probable Mr. Hermon went quite so
far as either of the above of his fellow-labourers in the
30
MEMOIRS OF
fwiLLlAM in..
Quaking Vineyard^ but it is highly probable he
came in for a share of the hnprisonment and perse,
cution^ as the Friends called it, that was liberally
dealt out by government against these innovators^
on their first attempts to establish themselves as the
chosen sect. On one occasion, Hermon was moved
by the spirit to ejaculate, " Oh ! the blessed man,
Joseph : Friends, I believe he had not the law as we
have ; Oh, Friends, I think Joseph had not the law;
to the best of my memory, the law was not writ in
Joseph's time ; — Oh, Infallibility !"
SIR JCMi:^ jcih:n^sto:^.
I ExcoxvtecL 1G5>1
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 31
Sir W^fin ^ofinmn.
Sir John Johnston was bora at Skickaldy, in
Fifeshire, and his father who had a good estate, having
diminished it by a too generous way of hving, Sir
John went young into the army to raise his fortune ;
and, being at the siege of Maestrich, under the
command of the Duke of Monmouth, he so behaved
himself as to obtain a captain's commission, but both
that and his personal estate were too scanty for his
way of Hving. While he was at Utrecht, in Holland,
he was charged with committing a rape on a young
woman, and likewise of the like crime near Chester,
while in England. After this he went over to Ireland,
where he thought to better his circumstances by mar-
riage ; and getting into the acquaintance of a Mr.
Magrath, in the county of Clare, he, by the manner
of his conversation, so gained his good opinion, that
he frequently invited him to dinner, and Mr. Magrath
having a daughter, who had 10,000/. to her portion,
Sir John took every opportunity to insinuate himself
into her company, and so far gained upon her affec-
tions as to obtain her consent to elope with him ;
32 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
but the father, having some hints given him of their
private courtship, kept a very watchful eye over
their actions, and at last being confirmed in his
suspicions, forbad Sir John his house, and kept his
daughter close. She being very uneasy under her
confinement, and being deprived of the sight of
Sir John, whom she loved to distraction, made a
kinswoman her confidant, and entrusted her with
a letter to Sir John, to let him know how uneasy
her life was, and that if he would come to such a
place, at such a time, she would endeavour to make
her escape, and meet him ; but the lady thinking
she should gain most by obliging her uncle, delivered
the letter to him, instead of Sir John ; Mr. Magrath,
having read it, sealed it up again, and sent it to Sir
John, who received it with a great deal of satis-
faction, and immediately wrote an answer, and sends
it back by the same messenger. But repairing to
the place of rendezvous, instead of meeting the lady,
fell into an ambuscade of fellows with sticks and
clubs, who beat him so unmercifully that he pro-
mised to relinquish his pursuit. Leaving those parts,
he repaired to Dublin ; where, having before con-
tracted debts, he was arrested, and thrown into
prison. Not knowing how to extricate himself out
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 33
of this difficulty, and having had some acquaintance
with the Lady Thomond, who was a zealous Roman
Catholic, and knowing she kept a priest in her
house, he sent a letter to her, acquainting her with
his hard fortune, and informing her that he was
reconciled to the see of Rome, begged that she
would send her chaplain to be assistant to him in
the concerns of his soul. The lady acquiesced with
his desire, and gave orders to her confessor to attend
him ; when introduced to Sir John, he told him he
could not be ignorant of the danger he was in,
knowing how all those of his function were perse-
cuted at that time, King William having so lately
made a conquest of that nation, and, therefore, he
could not venture to stay long with him, hoping he
was fully prepared to make his confession r Sir John
replied his confession was but short ; — it was, that
he wanted money, and he must work his deliverance,
or he should be obliged to inform against him.
The priest, being terrified, thought it better to
part with his money, than hazard a discovery ;
and gave him what he had about him, which was
a good sum in broad pieces ; but Sir John, not
thinking this enough to answer his wants, obliged
him to send for a scrivener, and give him a bond
VOL. I. F
34
ME3I0IRS OF [WILLIAM iir. \
for 60/. more, which being done, the priest was
permitted to depart. Sir John immediately em-
ployed a person to settle with his creditors, and with
the bond and part of the money compounded his
debts, got out of prison, and made the best of his
way for England.
Having been here some small time, and spent the
remainder of his money, he was obliged to be be-
holden to some of his countrymen for support :
and Captain James Campbell having a design ta
steal an heiress, one Miss Mary Wharton,* he and
* Miss Wharton was daughter of Philip Wharton, Esq., and
at the age of thirteen, by his death, inherited 1,500/. per annum,
besides a personal property to the amount of 1,000/. This
young lady resided with her mother, in Great Queen-street ;
when Captain James Campbell, brother of the Earl of Argyle,
wishing to possess so rich a prize, determined to marry her per
force, and for that purpose prevailed upon Sir John Johnston
and Archibald Montgomery to assist him in conveying Miss
Wharton from her home. The .enterprize succeeded but too
well, to Johnston's cost ; Campbell, who was the real culprit,
escaped punishment, and married Margaret Leslie, daughter of
David Lord Newark, after parliament had dissolved his first
marriage ; but every effort to save Johnston proved ineffectual.
Miss Wharton afterwards married Colonel Bierly, who com-
manded a regiment of horse in the service of William III.
Previous to this unpleasant affair, an act for preventing clan-
destine marriages had been introduced into the House of .
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 35
Mr. Montgomery were assistants in the affair ; which
being done, and a reward of 100/. offered for the
apprehending Captain Campbell, and .50/. a-piece for
him and Mr. Montgomery. Sir John being betrayed
by his landlord, was apprehended and indicted for it,
the 11th of December, 1690. The evidence was in
substance, that Miss Mary Wharton, being an heiress
of considerable fortune, and under the care of her
guardian, (Mr. Bierly,) was decoyed out on the 10th
of November, and being met with by Sir John John-
ston, Captain Campbell, and Mr. Montgomery, in '
Queen-street, was forced into a coach with six horses,
(appointed to wait there by Captain Campbell,) and
carried to the coachman's house, and there married
to Captain Campbell, against the consent of herself,
or knowledge of her guardian. The Jury finding the
prisoner Guilty, he received sentence of death.
At the place of execution, he addressed the spec-
tators in a long speech, in which he not only endea-
Commons, which met with considerable opposition ; and, al-
though Campbell's violence was a strong argument in favor of
the measure, the house rejected it, but annulled his marriage,
much against the wishes of the Earl of Argyle, who earnestly peti-
tioned that it might be confirmed.
F 9
MEMOIRS OF
[wiLLlAM III.
voured to make it appear he was blameless in the
transaction for which he suffered, but that he had
been greatly wronged by printed papers, in which he
was charged with a rape at Chester, and a similar
crime at Utrecht, in Holland. He was executed
at Tyburn, the 23d of December, I69O.
^^II.I.IAM JOY,
( The Eut^lisli S;rnrpsoj>.)
WILLIAM III] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 37
THE ENGLISH SAMPSON.
William Joy was a native of Kent, and born
May 2, 1675, at St. Lawrence, a small village, one
mile from Ramsgate, in the Isle of Thanet.
When very young, he distinguished himself among
his juvenile companions and play-mates, by his
amazing superiority in strength, over any antagonist
that dare to come in competition with his power,
whether in play or earnest. When about twenty-
four years of age, he first began to exhibit in public
his astonishing feats, in a display of personal prowess
inferior to none but the Hebrew champion recorded
in holy writ. Among many other of this man's ex-
traordinary performances may be recorded: — 1. A
strong horse, urged by the whip to escape his pow-
erful rein, is restrained and kept from escape solely
by the check of his pull, aided by a strong rope,
and this without any stay or support whatever.
2. Seated upon a stool, with his legs horizontally
elevated, solely by muscular power, he jumps clearly
from his seat. 3. To prove the agility and flex-
38 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
ibility of his joints, he places a glass of wine on the
sole of his foot, and, in an erect posture, without the
least bending of his head or body, raises the glass to
his mouth, and drinks the contents, turning his foot
with both hands, to accommodate his draught.
4. Aided by a strong leather girdle, or belt, and
supporting himself by pressing his arms on a railing,
he lifts from the ground a stone of the enormous
weight of 2240lbs. 5. A rope fastened to a wall,
which had borne 3500lbs. weight, without giving
way, is broke asunder by his amazing strength. The
celebrity of this man attracted the curiosity of King
William III,, before whom he exhibited at Ken-
sington Palace; likewise before George, Prince of
Denmark, and his royal consort, the Princess, after-
wards Queen Anne, and their son William, Duke
of Gloucester, called the hopes of England. — He also
went through a regular course of performances at the
Duke's Theatre, in Dorset-gardens, Salisbury-square,
which was attended by the first nobility and gentry
in the kingdom. The portrait of Wilham Joy, which
is presumed to be unique, is dated 1699, and
printed on a whole sheet, and is noticed by Bromley
in his catalogue of English Heads, but has escaped
the notice of the Rev. Mark Noble, in his continua-
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 39
tion of Granger's Biographical History. The head
is surrounded with five vignettes, representing the
manner in which he performed his various feats of
strength. At all times, and in all ages, we hear and
read of extraordinary persons, celebrated for one
thing or another. September 4th, 1818, was shown
at Bartholomew Fair, " The strongest woman in
Europe, the celebrated French Female Hercules,
Madame Gobert, who will lift with her teeth a table
five feet long and three feet wide, with several persons
seated upon it ; also carry thirty-six weights, fifty-
six pounds each, equal to 20l61bs. and will disengage
herself from them without any assistance ; will carry
a barrel containing 340 bottles ; also an anvil 400lbs.
weight, on which they will forge with four hammers
at the same time she supports it on her stomach ; she
will also lift with her hair the same anvil, swing it
from the ground, and suspend it in that position to
the astonishment of every beholder ; will take up a
chair by the hind stave with her teeth, and throw it
over her head, ten feet from her body. Her tra-
velling caravan, (weighing two tons,) on its road
from Harwich to Leominster, owing to the neglect
of the driver, and badness of the road, sunk in the
mud, nearly to the box of the wheels ; the two horses
40 MEMOIRS OF [william in.
being: unable to extricate it she descended, and,
with apparent ease, disengaged the caravan from its
situation, without any assistance whatever/'
Having the curiosity to see this wonderful Female,
I went for the purpose of accurately observing her
manner of performance, which was by laying ex-
tended at length on her back on three chairs, pillows
were then placed over her legs, thighs, and stomach,
over those two thick blankets, and then a moderately
thick deal board, the thirty-six weights were then
placed on the board, beginning at the bottom of the
legs, and extending upwards above the knees and
thighs, but none approaching towards the stomach.
She held the board on each side with her hands, and
when the last weight was put on, she pushed the
board upwards on one side, and tumbled the weights
to the ground. On the whole, there appeared more
of trick than personal strength in this feat. Her next
performance was raising the anvil, (which might
weigh nearly 200lbs.,) from the ground with
her hair, which is thick, black, and as strong as
that in the tail of a horse ; this is platted on each
side, and fixed to two cords, which is attached to
the anvil, then rising from a bending to an erect
posture, she raises and swings the anvil several
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 41
times backwards and forwards through her legs.
Her next feat was raising a table with her teeth,
a slight rickety thing, made of deal, with a bar
across the legs, which, upon her grasping it, is
sustained against her thighs, and enables her more
easily to swing it round several times, maintaining
her hold only by her teeth. The chair she makes
nothing of, but canters it over her head like a
plaything. That she is a wonderfully strong
woman is evident, but that she can perform what is
promised in her bills is a notorious untruth. She
has an infant which now sucks at her breast, about
eleven months old ; that lifts, with very little exer-
tion, a quarter of a hundred weight.
In the year 1794-, the writer of this article saw at
the Admiralty Coffee-house, Charing-cross, a man
named Sheppard, a sergeant in the Coventry volun-
teers, commanded by Colonel Troughton ; he was
then about five or six-and-twenty years of age, and
was remarked by his comrades and friends for ex-
traordinary strength, many particulars of which were
related, that aroused the curiosity of some officers of
that regiment, and some gentlemen, their friends, to
see the man and become witnesses of his power;
after being introduced, and requested to show a
VOL. I. G
42 MEMOIRS OF [avilliam iii.
proof of strength, he desired to have a few oysters
sent for, the largest which could be procured, un-
opened, which being produced, (and large ones they
were) he took six, and devoured them shells and all,
in a manner we generally see a person munch a
biscuit ; a heavy mahogany coffee-house-table, seven
feet long and four wide, he fixed his teeth in, placing
his arms behind him, and, by mere strength, elevated
the end to touch the ceiling ; he likewise took two
men, of moderate size, one in each hand, raised them
from the ground, and held them at arms length ; but
he acknowledged his superior strength to lay in his
jaw and neck. He has been known to take a pewter
pint pot, and tear it into pieces and shreds with his
teeth, and what may appear extraordinary, he said
he felt a visible decay of strength upon any time
having his hair cut, whether this was an affectation of
imitating Samson of old or not, we cannot deter-
mine, but must entirely depend on the man's as-
sertion ; — but all this does not come up to the feats
of William Joy. Topham, Sheppard, and Madame
Gobert, were but pigmies compared with the Eng-
lish Samson.
The facetious Tom Brown, in a letter to George
Moult, Esq. upon the breaking up of Bartholomew
WILLIAM HI.] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
43
Fair, informs him, that " a man may easily foretell,
without pretending to the gift of prophecy, that the
stage will be short-lived, and the strong Kentish-
man will take possession of the two play-houses,
as he has already done of that in Dorset-gardens.'^
And, in apostcriptto the same epistle, he adds " The
strong Kentish-man, (of whom you have heard so
many stories) has, as I told you above, taken up his
quarters in Dorset-gardens^ and how they'll get him
out again the Lord knows, for he threatens to thrash
all the Poets, if they pretend to disturb him. Mr.
Joseph Haines was his master of the ceremonies, and
introduced him in a prologue upon the stage ; and, in-
deed, who so fit to do it as this person, whose breath
is as strong as the Kentish-man's back."
G 2
44 MEMOIRS OF [william in.
Bt^ Wof)n asaliclito^
Dr. John Radcliffe, a man equally singular
in his manners as he rendered himself so by his
eures, was a native of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, of
respectable parentage, but burthened with the charge
of a numerous family. The neighbouring gentry
observing in Radcliffe an excellent capacity when a
boy, induced them to educate him at their own ex-
pence ; and, when he arrived at the age of fifteen, he
was sent to University College, Oxford, where his
mother (then a widow,) assisted him in obtaining a
thorough knowledge of Botany, Chemistry, and Ana-
tomy. He afterwards became a fellow of Lincoln
College, and commenced physician, with a sovereign
contempt for the works of medical writers. " There,"
said he, " is Radcliffe's library," pointing to a few
books on a window-seat. The faculty, in revenge,
called his cures '■''guess work,'' and he retorted by
terming them " old nurses" — His abhorrence of the
practice of consulting the water of patients is well
^OLiit 1714. J
■
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 45
known,* nature was his guide, and she led him to
adopt a cool regimen in the small-pox, which has
saved numbers of lives, and preserved the smoothness
and beauty of many faces. Several circumstances con-
spired to render his residence at Oxford unpleasant;
he, therefore, went to London, where his practice
became general, and he was equally celebrated for
his wit and his prescriptions ; the former blazed forth
with native frankness, without respect to place or
persons; he once said to King William, "I would
not have your titjo legs for your three kingdoms :" and
to Queen Anne, by a messenger who had been sent
for him, that " her majesty was as well as any woman
in England, if she would think so."
Dr. Radcliffe was a firm friend, and his lamen-
tations on the death of the Duke of Beaufort and
Lord Craven do honor to his feelings ; he has,
however, been accused of parsimony, and neglect of
* A woman, the wife of a shoe-maker, went to the doctor with
her husband's water, (who was ill,) in a urinal, for advice, he threw
the water away, withdrew, and filled it with his own, bidding her
return and shew her husband that, and make him a pair of boots
to fit. The poor woman said the thing was impossible, without
his being measured ; and so is it to cure him, replied Radcliffe,
without seeing him.
46 MEMOIRS OF [william iij.
his family ; the latter charge he endeavoured to ob-
viate, by leaving liberal annuities to his two sisters,
two nephews and a niece, and rewarding his servants;
several acts are recorded of his benevolence, and he
not only forgave, but provided for a criminal who had
robbed him, and exulted in restoring to his place and
confidence a servant whom he suspected and had
dismissed. He w^as once informed of a considerable
loss he had sustained by the capture of a ship, in
which some of his property had been embarked, and
answered the usual compliments of condolence with
a smile, and put round the bottle, " my lord, I have
only to go up 250 pair of stairs to make myself whole
again. ^^
A no'bleman of high rank, whom the doctor had
attended, and who was afflicted with a quinsey in
the throat, being by his friends considered in immi-
nent danger, and Radcliffe refusing to go on the first
sending for, the servants had orders to take the car-
riage and bring him to the patient by force, this the
coachman literally obeyed, thrusting the doctor into
the carriage, and driving him home, where, when he
arrived, he ordered the coachman and footman to
attend him into their master's chamber, giving orders
to the footman to make the cook get ready im-
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS, 47
mediately a dish of hot hasty-pudding, and send it
up ; keeping the coachman in the room, under pre-
tence of his assistance being necessary. The pudding-
ready, the doctor desired the coachman to give some
to his master while hot, which the sick noble-
man declining to take, the doctor made the coach-
man be seated with him to partake of it ; neither for
a time could taste it for the heat, but RadclifFe, after
blowing and pretending to take a spoonful, very dex-
terously threw a hot one in the coachman^s face, who,
not relishing the salutation, immediately returned the
compliment in that of the doctor's, — the sight of this
curious engagement set the sick nobleman into a con-
vulsion of laughter, which broke the quinsey, and
brought the doctor to the assistance of his patient, to
prevent suffocation.
Dr. Radcliffe's constitution was strong, and he
had a turn for conviviality, but when he entertained
Prince Eugene, he gave him plain beef and pudding,
for which the prince returned him thanks, as having
considered him " not as a courtier, but as a soldier."
It is believed that he distributed large sums in
private charity, to the non-juring clergy of England,
and the deprived episcopal clergy of Scotland; and
he is known to have been very liberal to the society
48 MEMOIRS OF [william in.
for promoting Christian Knowledge ; and to his
friend, Dr. Walker, a Roman Catholic^ to whom he
gave a handsome competence, and a respectable
funeral after his decease ; it has been suspected
that he gave his purse, with his friendship, to Dr.
Sacheverel.
He resided next door to Sir Godfrey Kneller, with
whom, for a time, he lived on friendly terms, and who
several times painted his portrait ; but some dispute
arising, concerning a garden-door which separated
their houses. Sir Godfrey threatened to have it nailed
up, which coming to the knowledge of the doctor, he
facetiously said. Sir Godfrey was welcome to do
what he pleased with it, provided he did not paint it.
Sir Godfrey's rejoinder was, he could take that or
any thing else from the doctor, except physic !
He was to have married a lady with 15,000/.
fortune, who endeavoured to conceal her pregnancy
by a favored lover ; far from resenting her conduct
after the discovery, he pleaded to her father for for-
giveness, and advised him to marry her to the man of
her choice, that he might give his property legallij to
the young Hans-en-held er .
Dr. Radcliffe died, November 1, 1714, and was
buried at St. Mary's Church, Oxford, with a so-
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS, i9
lemnity commensurate to his munificence to that
University. His death is supposed to have been
accelerated by the vexation he experienced at not
having attended Queen Anne, during her last
moments, as ordered by the privy-council. His
property, (exclusive of the legacies mentioned above,)
he bequeathed to the University of Oxford, where
his library is a sufficient monument to his memory ;
and to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in London,
VOL. I.
so MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
®1&oma]Ef learner.
Thomas Rymer was born in Yorkshire, and
had his education at the University of Cambridge,
but in what college is not known. On his settling
in London, he became a member of the society of
Gray's Inn, and, in 1692, succeeded Mr. Shadwell,
as historiographer to King William III., a situation
he was well qualified to fill, from his extensive read-
ing, and deep research into books and manuscripts
connected with English History. He was a man of
great learning, and a lover of poetry ; but, when he
set up for a critic, he brought a swarm of dis-
appointed authors round him, that almost galled and
stung him to death, in revenge for his unmercifully
scourging the offspring of their brains. His critical
writings prove he had very few requisites for the
character he had assumed, and he was indeed alrnost
totally disqualified for it, by his want of candour. —
The severities which he has exercised in his Vieie) of
the Tragedies of the last Age, against the inimi-
table Shakespeare, are scarcely to be forgiven, and
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THOMAS HY^IE^R.
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 51
must surely be considered as a kind of sacrilege com-
mitted on the memory of our immortal Bard. The
publication brought on him a very severe satire, from
the pen of a brother author, and equally severe critic,
under the title of " A Description of the Miseries of
a Garreteer Poet," in a print representing Mr. Rymer
and his distressed family, in a miserable attic, with
the following description of the place and furniture,
" in one corner of this poetical apartment stood a
flock-bed, and underneath it a green Jordan pre-
sented itself to the eye, which had collected the noc-
turnal urine of the whole family, consisting of Mr.
Rymer, his wife, and two daughters; three rotten
chairs^and a half seemed to stand like traps in various
parts of the room, threatening downfall to unwary
strangers ; and one solitary table, in the middle of
this aerial apartment, served to hold the different
treasures of the whole family ; there was now lying
upon it, the first act of a Comedy, a pair of yellow
stays, two political pamphlets, a plate of bread and
butter, three dirty night-caps, and a volume of mis-
cellaneous poems. The lady of the house was drown-
ing a neck of mutton in meagre soup, and their
two daughters sat in the window mending their
father's brown stockings, with blue worsted ; such
h3
52 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
was the mansion of Mr. Rymer, the poet ; and, to
complete his misfortunes, instead of an expected re-
ward for his works from a nobleman, he brought
home as a present little Pompey: this so exaspe-
rated his wife, that with savage hands she seized his
works on the table, and was going to commit them
to the flames, but her husband's voice interrupted
her, crying out, see ! see ! see ! my dear, the pot
boils over, and the broth is all running into the
fire ; this luckily put an end to their debate, they
sat down to dinner without a table-cloth, envying
one another every morsel that escaped their own
mouths."
That Mr, Rymer's talents for dramatic poetry
were extremely inferior to those of the persons whose
writings he has with so much rigour attacked, will
be apparent to every one who will take the trouble
of perusing one play, which he has given to the
world, entitled, Edgar ^ a tragedy, 4to., 1678.
But although he did not rank high in fame or
judgment as a poet and a critic, yet it cannot be
denied but that he was a very excellent antiquary
and historian. Some of his pieces, relating to our
constitution, are remarkably good ; and his well-
known valuable and most useful work, entitled the
%viLLiAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 53
Foedera, printed in seventeen volumes, folio, will
stand an everlasting monument of his worth, his in-
defatigable assiduity, and clearness of judgment as
an historical compiler. He died on the 14th day
of December, 1713, and was buried in the parish-
church of St. Clement^s Danes.
54 MEMOIRS OF [william in.
^l&omajS ^tfion*
Thomas Tryon was one among many instances
to prove how much personal industry, aided by
prudence, may effect. He was born at Bibury, in
Gloucestershire, of parents in a very humble situa-
tion ; his father was a plasterer and tile-maker, and,
at five years of age, rendered his son useful towards
earning a part to support himself, by spinning and
carding of wool, and assisting him in his own trade
of a plasterer, which occupation he quitted to assume
the office of a shepherd. At thirteen years of age
he first began to learn to read, and at fourteen, by
the strictest frugality, he found himself master of
several sheep, one of which he gave to be taught the
art of writing ; and, shortly afterwards, he sold his
whole stock of sheep for three pounds, and with that
sum in his pocket made the best of his way to
London, in hopes of improving his little fortune: he
was not long in finding a situation, and became
apprentice to a hat-maker, at Bridewell Dock : he
paid the greatest attention in learning his business,
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THOMAS TMYO^,
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 55
to which he devoted the whole of the day, and
amused himself the greatest part of the night in
reading; he was peculiarly attached to books of
astrology and the occult sciences, and Lilly, Par-
tridge, Booker, and others of the same class, were
his infallible oracles. In imitation of Roger Crabb,
the Uxbridge hermit, he rejected the use of animal
food, and affected to consider the lives of the dumb
creation as sacred. Having heated his imagination
to the highest pitch, he boasted that by his " tempe-
rance, cleanliness, and innocency," he was purified for
celestial enjoyment, and had felt himself inspired
with divine illuminations. He possessed, however,
sufficient prudence to take care of that which the
generality of the world call " the main chance." He
entered and pursued business with such attention
and success, that he accumulated a considerable
fortune. His amusements and fancies were inno-
cent, and hurt none ; and, like some other humourists,
marked the progress of the spirit in a journal, in
which he carefully recorded the mighty working
wonders of his prolific brain, and at forty-eight
commenced author upon other subjects, not less
extraordinary than the preceding.
Tryon was of a sensible, enthusiastic mind, acting
entirely from his own resolves ; not submitting to
56 MEMOIRS OF [wiluam hi.
the guidance or advice of any one ; had society or
friendship directed him, or assisted his experience
and application, he might have produced something
worthy remark, and we might have admired, and
been improved, instead of wondering and smihng at
his singular mode of burying birds, or laughing at his
abomination of woollen cloth, and his permission
for our wearing linen.
He died, August 21, 1703, at the age of 69-> when
perhaps he had thoughts of remaining a series of ages
in this world, through his tenderness to beasts, birds,
fishes, insects and reptiles.
J lit J rii^Jtffiqics'ofi-aiiies IV ntlticv .m(f. nolorioiis j-iut/Lwuzfman.
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 57
3Jame$ Wiftitm&^
In general, the biographers of rogues and vaga-
bonds give their heroes a title to wit and ingenuity-
very far beyond the abilities of the scoundrels they
record ; to this, in a great measure, is owing the dif-
ficulty of finding out, and appreciating as they merit,
genuine anecdotes of the characters delineated. If
any man becomes distinguished by crime, a hun-
dred stories are immediately put in circulation, attri-
buting matters to his invention, to which he was not
only incompetent, but absolutely a stranger to the
very circumstances related.
One of this description appears to have been James
Whitney, who, in addition to his own depredations,
has the credit of many he never probably committed.
He was born at Stevenage, in Hertfordshire, and,
when fit for servitude, was apprenticed to a butcher,
with whom he continued until the expiration of his
time ; but no sooner did he become his own master,
than he gave way to a very irregular course of life.
Going with another butcher to Romford, in Essex,
VOL. I. I
58 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
in order to buy calves, they met with one they had
a particular fancy to ; but the owner demanded what
they thought an extravagant price for it, so that they
could not strike a bargain ; however, as the man
kept a public-house, our companions agreed to go in
and drink with him. They were much vexed at not
being able to purchase the calf, when Whitney sud-
denly proposed the stealing of it, to which the other
consenting, they sat drinking till night.
In the evening, a fellow came into the town with
a great she-bear, which he carried about for a show,
and put up at the house where the two butchers
were drinking in an inner room, the landlord was
some time before he could contrive where to lodge
the bear, but at last he resolved to move the calf into
another out-house, and tie madam Bruin up in his
place, which was done accordingly, without the
knowledge of Whitney and his friend, who continued
drinking till they were told it was time to go to bed.
Upon this warning they paid their reckoning, and
went out, staying in the fields near the town till
they imagined the time favored their design. The
night was very dark, and they came to the stall
without making any noise or disturbance ; Whitney
was to go in and fetch out the calf, while the other
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 59
watched without; when he entered he felt about, till
he got hold of the bear, which lying after the sluggish
manner peculiar to those creatures, he began to tickle
it to make it rise ; at last, being awaked, the beast
being muzzled, rose up on her hind legs, not know-
ing but it was her master going to show her.
Whitney still continued feeling about, wondering at
the length of the calf's hair, and that he should stand
in such a posture, till the bear caught hold of him
and hugged him fast between her fore-feet.
In this posture he remained, unable to move, and
afraid to cry out, till the other butcher, wondering
at his long stay, put his head in at the door, and
said, with a low voice, What the plague^ will you
be all the night stealing a calf ! — A calf! quoth
Whitney^ I believe it is the devil that I am going
to steal, for he hugs me as closely, as he does the
witch in the statue. Let it be the devil, says t'other
bring him out, however, that we may see what he is
like, which is something I should be very glad to
know. Whitney was too much surprised to be
pleased with the jesting of his companion, so that
he replied, with some choler, Come, and fetch him
yourself , for may I be d d if I half like him.
Hereupon t'other entered, and, after a little examina-
I 2
60 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
tion, found how they were bit. By his assistance
Whitney got loose, and they both swore they would
never attempt to steal calves any more.
Whitney, after this, took the George Inn, at Ches-
hunt, in Hertfordshire, where, for a time, he enter-
tained all sorts of bad company ; but, this speculation
not answering, in a little time he was compelled to
shut up his house, and retreat to London, where he
began to practice every sort of fraud and villany. —
It was some time before he took to the highway,
following only the common tricks practised by the
sharpers of the town, in which he was the more
successful, as he always went dressed like a gentle-
man.
One morning, as Whitney stood on Ludgate-hill,
at a mercer's door, waiting for a friend whom he
expected to come by, two ladies of the town came
along, these ladies took our gentleman for the master
of the shop, and supposing him to become an easy
dupe, asked him if he had any fine silks of the
newest fashion ; Whitney readily replied, that he had
none by him at present he could recommend, but in
a day or two's time he should have choice, several
weavers being to bring him in pieces, made from the
last fashions brought up, aiid begged to know where
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 61
he might have the honor to wait on them with sam-
ples,— to which one of the ladies replied, That being
newly come to town, they did not remember the name
of the street ; but it was not far off, and if he pleased
to go with them., they would shoio him their habita-
tion. Whitney politely consented, and, to make the
affair appear with a better face, he stepped into the
shop, as if he went to give orders to the shopman, to
whom he only put a few trifling questions, and came
out again unsuspected. Having accompanied the
ladies home, he very civilly offered to take his leave
of them. — Nay, Sir, says one of them, but you shall
walk in and take a glass of wine with us, since you
have been so good as to give yourself all this trouble,
Whitney thanked them, and, with abundance of com-
plaisance, accepted the invitation.
Hitherto both parties were deceived, Whitney
really took them for gentlewomen of fortune, and
came home with them only to learn something that
might forward him to make a prey of them ; and they
as confidently believed him to be the mercer, who
owned the shop at which they picked him up. Their
designs were to get his money out of his pocket,
and, if they could, a suit or two of silk into the
bargain. What confirmed them in this opinion was,
62 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
the notice he took of several gentlemen as he passed
along the street, by pulling off his hat to them, and
their returning the compliment. — Whit?iei/ d\d it for
this very purpose, and it is natural and common for
men of fashion to return the salutation of those who
notice them.
The ladies introduced the supposed mercer into
an apartment splendidly furnished, where a table was
instantly spread with a fine cold collation. This be-
ing over, the servant and one of the ladies withdrew,
leaving the other alone with our adventurer, who soon
discovered the drift of her ladyship ; but, willing to
keep on the mask, after many amorous professions,
promised her as much silk as would make her a com-
plete dress.
Whitney was so well pleased with his adventure
and reception at this place, that he was resolved, if
possible, to have a little more of the same enjoy-
ment, and to that end went to a mercer, and told
him, that such a lady had sent him to desire that he
would send one of his men with two or three pieces
of the richest silk he had, for her to choose a gown
and petticoat. The mercer knowing the person of
quality he named, she having been his customer
before, and without mistrusting any thing, sent a
WILLIAM III] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 63
youth, who was but newly come apprentice, telHng
him the prices in Whitney^ hearing. Our adven-
turer led the lad through as many bye-streets as he
could, in order to carry him out of his knowledge,
till observing a house in Suffolk-street^ which had a
thoroughfare into Hedge-lane^ he desired the young
man to stay at the door, while he carried in the silks
to shew them to the lady, who lodged there; the
youth very readily agreed, and Whitney went into
the house, and asked the people for somebody whom
they did not know ; and, upon their telling him no
such person lived in that neighbourhood, he desired
leave to go through, which was granted, and he got
clear off with his prize, which he immediately carried
to his two ladies, and divided between them. After
which he revelled with them in all manner of excess
for several days, and then withdrew himself.
He was resolved, however, that nobody but him-
self should enjoy the fruit of his industry, and since
he could not have the profit of his cheat, he thought
proper to restore the mercer his goods again. To
this end he writes a letter where the women lived,
and the shop-keeper, getting a warrant and constable,
went and found the silks in their possession ; all
the excuse they could make, as receiving them
64 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
from the right owner, availed nothing, they were
hurried before a magistrate, who committed them
to Tothill-Jields Brideioell, were their backs were co-
vered with stripes of the cat-and-nine-tails, instead of
the eleemosynary silks, which they made so sure of.
Whitney had now become a confirmed highway-
man, and meeting a gentleman on Bagshot-heatk, he
commanded him to stand and deliver, to which the
other replied, Sir, *tis well you spoke Jirst ; for I was
just going to say the same thing to you. — Why, are you
a gentleman thief thenP quoth Whitney. — Yes, said
the stranger, but I have had very had success to day.
WJiitney upon this wished him better luck, and
took his leave, really supposing him to be what he
pretended. — At night it was the fortune of Whitney
and this person to put up at the same inn, when our
gentleman told some other travellers by what stra-
tagem he had escaped being robbed on the road.
Whitney had so altered his habit and speech, that
the gentleman did not know him again ; so that he
heard all the story without being taken any notice of.
Among other things, he heard him tell one of the
company softly, that he had saved an hundred pounds
by his contrivance. The person to whom he had
whispered this, was going the same way the next
wiLi.iAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 65
morning, and said, he had also a considerable sum
about him, and, if he pleased, should be glad to
travel with him for security.
When morning came, the travellers set out, and
Whitney about a quarter of an hour after them ; all
the discourse of the gentlemen was about cheating
the highwaymen, if they should meet any. When
Whitney, at a convenient place, had got before them,
and bid them stand, the gentleman whom he met
before not knowing him, he having disguised him-
self after another manner, briskly cried out. We were
going to say the same to you. Sir. — Were you so ?
quoth Whitney, and are you of my profession then P — '
Yes, said they both. If you are, replied Whitney y
I suppose you remember the old proverb, two of a
trade can never agree, so that you must not expect
any favor on that score. But to be plain, gentlemen,
the trick loill do no longer ; I know you very well,
and must have your hundred pounds. Sir ; and your
considerable sum. Sir, turning to the other, let it be
what it will, or 1 shall make bold to send a brace of
bullets through each of your heads. You, Mr. High-
wayman, should have kept your secret a little longer,
and not have boasted so soon of having outwitted a
VOL. I. K
66 MEMOIRS OF [willum hi.
thief; there is now nothing for you to do, but deliver
or die !
These terrible words put them both into a sad
consternation : they were loth to lose their money,
but more loth to lose their lives ; so, of two evils
they chose the least, the tell-tale coxcomb disbursing
his hundred pounds, and the other a somewhat
larger sum, professing that they would be careful for
the future not to count without their host.
Another time, Whitney met with one Mr. HulU an
old usurer, in the Strand, as he was riding across
Hounsloic-heath. He could hardly have chosen a
wretch more in love with money ; and, consequently,
who would have been more unwilling to have parted
with it. When the dreadful words were spoken, he
trembled like a paralytic, and fell to expostulating the
case in the most moving expressions he was master of,
professing that he was a very poor man, had a large
family of children, and should be utterly ruined if he
was so hard-hearted as to take his money from him.
He added, moreover, the illegality of such an action,
and how very dangerous it was to engage in such
evil courses. Whitney, who knew him, cried out in
a great passion : Sirrah, do you pretend to preach
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS, 67
'niorality to an honester man than yourself; you make
a prey of all mankind^ and grind to death ivith
eight and ten per cent. This once., however, Sir, I
shall oblige you to lend me what you have without
bond, consequently without interest; so make no
more words.
Old Hull, hereupon, pulled out about eighteen
guineas, which he gave with a great deal of grumbling;
telling him withal, that he should see him one time or
another ride up Holborn-hill backwards. Whitney
was going about his business till he heard these
words, when he returned, and pulled the old gentle-
man off his horse, putting him on again with his face
towards the horse's tail, and tying his legs ; Now,
says he, you old rogne, let me see what a figure a
man makes lehen he rides backtcards, and let me
have the pleasure, at least, of beholding you first in
that posture. So giving the horse three or four
good cuts with his whip, he set him a running so
fast, that he never stopt till he came to Hounslow
town, where the people loosed our gentleman, after
they had made themselves a little merry with the
sight.
Whitney always affected to appear generous and
K 2
68 MEMOIRS OF [william in.
noble ; meeting one day with a gentleman on New-
market-heath, whose name was Long, and having
robbed him of a hundred pounds, in silver, which
was in his portmanteau, tied up in a great bag, the
gentleman told him, that he had a great way to go,
and, as he was unknown upon the road, should meet
with many difficulties, if he did not restore as much as
would bear his expences. Whitney opened the mouth
of the bag, and holding it to Mr. Long, Here, says he,
take what you have occasion for. Mr. Long put in
his hand, and took out as much as he could hold :
to which Whitney made no opposition, but only
said with a smile, / thought you would have had
more conscience. Sir.
Coming once to Doncaster, he put up at the Red
Lion Inn, and made a great figure, having a pretty
round sum in his possession. While he resided
her^e, he was informed that the landlord of the house
was reputed rich, but withal so covetous, that he
would do nothing to help a poor relation or neigh-
bour in distress. On this Whitney set his wits to
work, and gives out that he had a good estate, and
travelled about the country merely for his pleasure,
,and so artfully insinuated himself into the good
WILLIAM III.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 69
opinion of his host, that he ran most plentifully into
his debt, both for his own accommodation, and the
keep of his horse.
It happened that while he remained here, there
was an annual fair held ; upon the fair-day, in the
morning, a small box, carefully sealed, and very
weighty, came directed to him. He opened it, took
out a letter, which he read, and locked it up, and gave
it to his landlady, desiring her to keep it in her cus-
tody for the present, because it would be safer than
in his own hands, and ordered the landlord, at the
same time, to write out his bill, that he might pay
him the next morning: as soon as he had done this,
he went out, as though to see the fair. In the
afternoon he comes home again, in a great hurry, and
desired his horse might be dressed and saddled, he
having a mind to shew him in the fair, and, if he
could, to exchange him for one he had seen, and
which he thought was the finest that ever he fixed
his eyes on. — I xcill have him^ says he, if possible,
whether the owner laill buy mine or no, aiid though
he cost me forty guineas ; he then asked for his land-
lady to help him to his box, but she was gone to the
fair ; whereupon he fell a swearing like a madman,
that he supposed she had locked up what he gave
70 MEMOIRS OF [william im.
her, and taken the keys with her : If she has, quoth
he, I had rather have given ten guineas, for I have no
tnoney at all, but tohat is in your possession. En-
quiry was made, and it was found to be as he said,
which put him into a still greater passion, though it
was what he wished for, and even expected, the
whole having been invented for the sake of this
single scene.
The landlord quickly had notice of our gentle-
man's anger, and the occasion of it; upon which he
comes to him, and begs of him to be easy, offering
to lend him the sum he wanted, till his wife came
home, Whittiey seemed to resent it highly, that he
must be obliged to borrow money when he had so
much of his own ; however, as there was no other
way, he condescended, with abundance of reluctance,
to accept the proposal ; adding, that he desired an
account of all he was indebted as soon as possible,
as it was not his custom to run hand over head.
Having received forty guineas, the sum he pre-
tended to want, he mounts his horse, and rides
towards the fair, but instead of dealing there for
another horse, he spurred his own through the crowd,
as fast as he could conveniently, and made the best
of his way towards London. At night the people
WILLIAM 11..] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 71
of the inn sat up very late for his coming home,
nor did they suspect any thing the first, or even the
second night, but at the end of two or three days
the landlord was a little uneasy ; and, after he had
waited a week to no purpose, it came into his head
to break open the box, in order to examine it. With
this view he goes to the magistrate of the place,
procures his warrant, and, in presence of a constable
and other witnesses, broke open the casket, and
was ready to hang himself when he found the
contents to be nothing but sand and stones.
This was, however, the last of Whitney s adventures,
for not long after his arrival in town he was appre-
hended in White Friars, upon the information of
Mother Cozens, who kept a bawdy-house in 3Iil-
ford-lane, over-against St. Clement'' s Church. The
magistrate, who took the information, committed him
to Newgate, where he remained till the next sessions
at the Old Bailey. Being brought to trial, and found
guilty, the Recorder passed sentence of death on
him, and exhorted him to a sincere repentance, as it
was impossible for him to hope for any reprieve, after
such a course of villanies: and, on Wednesday, the
19th of December, 1694, he was carried to the place
of execution, which was at Porter'' s Blocky near
72 MEMOIRS OF [william iit.
Smithfield, where he addressed the people in the fol-
lowing words: —
" / have been a very great offender, both against
God, and iny Country, by transgressing all laws,
human and divine. I believe there is not one here
present, but has often heard my name, before my
confinement, and have seen a large catalogue of my
crimes, which has been made public since; — why
should I then pretend to vindicate a life stained with
so many enormous deeds P — The sentence passed on me
is just, and I can see the footsteps of a providence,
which I had before profanely laughed at, in my ap-
prehension and conviction. I hope the sense w)hich
I have of these things has enabled me to make my
peace with heaven, the only thing that is now of any
concern to me. Join in your prayers with me, my
dear countrymen, that God would not forsake me in
my last moments.
Having spoke thus, and afterwards spent a few
moments in private devotion, he was turned off,
being about thirty-four years of age.
JE 8 O F
Kvon.
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
^t0op Of aston.
CoBLERS, in general, have the character of being^
great ti piers, and yEsop of Eton was not of a dis-
position to falsify the common assertion, that a
cobler, when drunk, is " as great as a lord." The real
name of this genius has not been handed down to
us; but, from the appellation given him of yEsop,
there is every reason to suppose him to have been
deformed, similar to his fabled namesake of anti-
quity. In the reign of Queen Anne, when the
Whig and Tory politicians so liberally bespattered
one another, ^Esop was determined not to remain
neuter, and, inspired by the classic, air of Eton, he
started in the treble pursuits of politics, poetry and
cobbling, and employed his pen and awl alternately,
to patch the state and old shoes and boots. The
latter profession, however, succeeded with him best ;
as his cobbling jobs enabled him to keep St. Cris-
pin's weekly holiday regularly throughout the year,
and the copious draughts of Sir John Barleycorn's
delighful beverage enabled him to exercise his muse
VOL. I. L
74
MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
in many a drunken rhyme, though it does not
appear that either his poetic or prosaic productions
were ever deemed worthy to be preserved in print.
Mr. Granger observes of his rhymes, that he knew
no better way to characterize them, than " by the
three blue beans in a blue bladder." The memory
of iEsop of Eton, and his works, have long ceased
to interest any one.
At the period in which ^Esop of Eton flourished,
there were several other pretenders to the appellation
of the Phrygian sage, and the name became so de-
graded as to be marked only with contempt. Tom
Brown informs us, in one of his witty letters, that,
"because yEsopfrom Tunbridge had the good fortune
to please, an hundred other vEsops, from Epsom,
Islington, and other parts of the kingdom, were im-
mediately trumped up, till the very name of ^sop
at last grew scandalous."
Tom Browns Works, Vol. I. p. 241.
^ TJie Mimic Trumjoeter. |
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
W^mt0 IStCfe,
THE MIMIC TRUMPETER
James Bick picked up a tolerable living by fre-
quenting public-houses, and amusing the company
in various tricks of Ventriloquism. He is said to
have been related to John Shore Bick, Esq. serjeant-
trumpeter, but there is no reason to suppose there
was any other affinity in these people, than in the
name. James Bick particularly excelled in imi-
tating the trumpet, and he has been known to ac-
company a band, where that instrument was wanting,
in a manner so perfectly correct, that the finest ear
could not feel the deficiency of the real from the
counterfeit deception. He lived and flourished
about the latter end of Queen Anne's reign, and
was succeeded in his mimic art by one Clinch, of
Barnet, who regularly performed at Hicks's-hall
Coffee-house, St. John's-street, Clerkenwell, of an
evening, and collected very considerable sums from
his admiring auditors.
Bick's reputation, as a sham-trumpeter, was too
l2
76 MEMOtRS OF [anise.
well established for Clinch to attack that instrument,
and he wisely judged it best to stick to the horn,
which, by incessant practice, he brought himself to
excel in ; he greatly distinguished himself in mimic-
ing the huntsman, pack of hounds, sham doctor, old
woman, drunken man ; and the bells, the flute,
double courtel, and the organ, with three voices.
All instruments were imitated by his natural voice,
and he sung an Essex song, after a manner which
none but himself could perform, as we are informed
by the " Daily Post'' of April 24, 1722. The time
of Bick's death is not known, but Clinch died in
December, 1734, when he had attained the age of
seventy years. We have of late years witnessed the
surprising powers of Ventriloquism. Askins, a man
with a wooden-leg, performed for a season or two
at Sadler's Wells, at a considerable weekly salary ;
and George Romondo, a native of Lisbon, about the
year 1805, exhibited his tricks of Ventriloquism in
almost every public-house throughout the metro-
polis. Mathews, the Comedian, has lately set up in
this way, and his single exertions filled the theatre
of the English Opera-house for a whole season,
while the theatres of Drury Lane and Covent-garden
were playing to empty benches.
_ _ '^rSk.-- . _>-^
THOMAS BRia^TOK
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 77
'Ef)om^0 9Stittom
Thomas Brixton was born about the middle of
the seventeenth century, at, or near Higham-Ferrers?
in Northamptonshire. He served an apprenticeship
to a small-coal man, in London, and set up in the
same trade in Clerkenwell. He made it his business
to go about the streets, with his sack on his back,
crying "Small-coal." His daily rounds through the
town made him acquainted with a variety of book-
stalls, from which he collected a tolerable library of
books, which he occasionally sold at a good profit to
the nobility and gentry. About the commencement
of the last century, a passion prevailed among several
persons of distinction, for collecting old books and
MSS., and it was their Saturday's amusement,
during winter, to ramble through various quarters of
the town in pursuit of these literary treasures. The
Earls of Oxford, Pembroke, Sunderland, and Win-
chelsea, and the Duke of Devonshire were of this
party; and Mr. Bagford, and other collectors, assisted
them in their researches. Britton appears to have
78 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
been employed by them ; and, as he was a very
modest, decent, and unassuming man, he was a
sharer in their conversation when they met, after
their morning's walk, at a bookseller's shop in Ave-
maria-lane. Britton used to pitch his coal-sack on
a bulk at the door, and, drest in his blue-frock,
step in, and spend an hour with the company. But
it was not only by a few bookish lords that his ac-
quaintance was cultivated ; his humble roof was fre-
quented by assemblies of the fair and the gay, and this
small-coal man has the singular honor of having set
the first example, in this country, of that elegant and
rational amusement, amusical concert. His attachment
to music caused him to be known to many amateurs
and performers, who formed themselves into a club at
his house, where capital pieces were played by some
of the first professional persons. Dr. Pepusch, and
even Handel, here displayed their powers on the
harpsichord, and Diibourg played his first solo on
the violin. Britton's housewas an old mean build*
ing, of which the ground-floor was a repository for
coals ; over this was the concert-room, long, low and
narrow, and ascended to by a pair of stairs from the
outside, scarcely to be mounted without crawling ;
yet some of the finest ladies of the land were seen
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 79
to trip up them without airs or hesitation. This
music meeting commenced in 1678, audit is affirmed
that it was at first absolutely gratuitous, but, in
process of time, probably after Britton had taken a
more convenient room in the next house, a sub-
scription was paid of ten shillings a-year each ; for
which, however, he provided musical instruments.
He had also a very good collection of ancient and
modern music, by the best authors.
The singularity of Britton's mode of life, and the
contrast between his station and his connections,
caused a variety of opinions to prevail concerning
him and his meetings. He was taken for an atheist,
a Jesuit, a sectary, and a conjuror; and his concerts
were thought to be meetings for seditious or magical
purposes. He was, however, a plain honest man,
of an open, ingenuous countenance, and cheerful
temper, and a sincere votary of the arts and studies
in which he engaged His taste for chemistry he
imbibed from his neighbour, Dr. Garencieres ; and
his ingenuity enabled him to contrive a moving labo-
ratory, built by himself, at a small expence, with
which he performed many curious experiments ; of
the nature of these we are not informed, but as many
80 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
of the books he had picked up related to the Rosycru-
cian philosophy, it is not improbable that he might
waste some of his small-coal in search after the
grand secret.
He appears rather to have been a general virtuoso,
than a real proficient in any one branch, yet he
played upon the viol de gamba at his own concerts;
and the noted antiquary, Thomas Hearne, has at-
tested his real skill in rare books and old manuscripts.
He sold a large collection of these some years before
his death, the printed catalogue of which Hearne
says he has often looked over with wonder ; and
another collection of books and music, which was
the chief property he left behind him, was sold by
his widow.
The circumstances of his death were as extraordi-
nary as those of his life, if the story is to be credited.
A Ventriloquist was introduced into his company by
an acquaintance, who was fond of mischievous jests;
this man, in a voice apparently coming from a
distance, announced to poor Britton his approach-
ing end, and bid him prepare for it, by repeating
the Lord's Prayer, on his knees. Britton, whose
mystical and magical books had probably made
A^fNE*J
REMARKABLE PEflSONS.
81
him credulous, obeyed the injunction, went home,
took to his bed, and actually died in a few days.
This was in September, 1714. He was buried,
with a very respectful attendance, in Clerkenwell
church-yard.
VOL.
82 MEMOIRS OF [an»e.
Bantel ^nvQt$0.
Daniel Burgess, a pulpit buffoon, and imita-
tor of Hugh Peters, amused his congregations more
by the levity of his manners, and coarseness of his
jokes, than benefited them either by precept or exam-
ple. He was the son of a clergyman, at Collingburn-
Ducis, Wilts, where he was born, in 1645. Mr.
Burgess went to Ireland, under the protection of
Lord Orrery, the Lord-president of Munster, where
he taught a school at Charlevil ; but, returning to
England at the Restoration, he became a Non-con-
formist, though not a Puritan ; for he was as facetious
as his merry monarch, and his jokes were suited to
the nature of his company, and the age he lived in.
The tales and jests of Hugh Peters have been col-
lected, and published in a small volume, but the
quips, cranks, jests, and puns of Daniel Burgess
would form a small Encyclopaedia of wit and mirth.
Preaching of Job's ' robe of righteousness,' " If,"
said he, " any of you would have a suit for a twelve-
month, let him repair to Monmouth-street ; if for his
i>a:kiei^ bvmgess
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 8^-
life-time, let him apply to the Court of Chancery,
and if for all eternity, let him put on righteousness.^'
Observing but a small congregation one day at his
sermon, he suddenly called out, " Fire ! Fire ! Fire !"
The affrighted audience exclaimed, " Where ? Where ?
Where ?" — " In hell, to burn such wretches as regard
not the glad tidings of the gospel."
Some modern preachers have not disdained to
copy the style and manner of Daniel's address from
the pulpit. The Rev. Mr. Whitfield, previous to
one of his sermons, loudly vociferated, " I espy a
whore ! Fll throw my bible at her ?" at which every
female in the chapel stooping their heads, to avoid
the menaced threat, fearing in his wrath he might
mistake the right aim ; " Aye," exclaimed he, " I see
a guilty conscience needs no accuser."
The Rev. Rowland Hill, likewise, would some-
times condescend to a little facetiousness ; — while
building his chapel in the Blackfriar's-road, he ob-
served considerable progress making towards erect-
ing the first Surry Theatre, which he noticed in an
address to his followers in the following words: —
" You have a race to run now, between G and
the devil, the children of the last are making all
possible haste in building him a temple, where he
M 2
84 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
may receive the donation and devotions of the
children of vanity ! now exert yourselves in the
cause of righteousness, and never let it be said but
what God can outrun the devil."
Burgess assigned a curious motive for the Hebrews
being called Israelites, " the reason is, because God
ever hated Jacobites ; and, therefore. Jacobus sons
were not so called, but Israelites." — Burgess, in his
doctrine as well as politics, was in direct opposition
to the popular fire-brand, Dr, Sacheverel; this was
so well known, that when the high and low-church
party were at the summit of their intemperate zeal,
Sacheverel*s mob, infuriated by the hangman's burn-
ing the sermons of their idol, in revenge set fire to
the meeting-houses of their opponents, the Whigs,
in which conflagration, that of Daniel Burgess, as
one of the most conspicuous, became first illuminated,
at the expence of the pulpit and pews. His vein
of mirth did not forsake hjm to the last, nor was his
waggery and jokes confined to the meeting-house,
but enlivened the company in which he joined, both
at home and abroad.
Burgess once dining with a gentleman of his
congregation, a large Cheshire-cheese, uncut, was
brought to table, "Where shall I cut it?'* asked
ANNE.} REMARKABLE PERSONS. 85
Daniel; "Any where you please, Mr. Burgess,"
answered the gentleman. Upon which Daniel
handed it to the servant, desiring him to carry it to
his house, and he would cut it at home.
He published many works, a catalogue of which
is added to his funeral sermon, from his "Golden
Snuffers," to his " Latin Defence of Non-conform-
ity." There were several Puritan preachers of the
name of Burgess, who are mentioned by Dr. Calamy.
Daniel Burgess died towards the end of January,
and was buried the 31st of that month, 1723.
86 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
Wiillmtn etat^tm^.
"Cardinal Carstairs," as he was generally
called, acted the direct opposite part to his name-
sake, the tool of the Duke of Lauderdale, in pro-
moting the worst designs of Charles II. in Scotland ;
who, in 1678, under great horror, according to
Burnet, ordered himself to be cast into some ditch,
as a dog, for he said he was no better. The Car-
dinal, on the contrary, projected traitorous designs
in London, against his sovereign, for which he was
apprehended, and sent to Scotland, where, being
put to the torture, he confessed his treason ; but
was afterwards permitted to retire to Holland, where
he was received, and even taken into some degree of
favor and confidence, by the Prince of Orange, with
whom he afterwards returned to England.
A bigotted Presbyterian, he enjoyed, it is said, the
revenues of the bishopric of Dumblaine, and con-
stantly attended King William, as his chaplain, in
all his campaigns ; indeed, during the whole of that
reign, he was regarded as a person oi" some conscv
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 87
quence. The intended assassin of the Rye-house
Plot had his share in the infamous massacre at
Glencoe, and wickedness only changed its object.
Queen Anne gave him a gracious reception, as the
head of a deputation at the time of the Union, when
he attended on behalf of the kirk, as principal of the
college at Edinburgh ; but she never would employ
him in her government. But, to keep him quiet,
he was continued one of the Royal Chaplains, and
received the episcopal revenue to defend Scotland
from bishops.
Carstairs lived to see George I. seated upon the
throne, and died in 1/1 5- Mackay, who knew him
well, describes him as " the cunningest, subtle dis-
sembler in the world, with an air of sincerity a dan-
gerous enemy, because always hid. An instance of
which was secretary Johnstoun, to whom he pre-
tended friendship till the very morning he gave him
a blow, though he had been worming him out of the
king's favor for many months before.
He was a fat, sanguine-complexioned, fair man,
always smiling, where he designed most mischief;
a good friend when sincere. He is said to have
had a Catholic spirit at times, and to have done acts
of benevolence in an extraordinary way, an instance
88
MEMOIRS OF
[anne»
of which follows : — ordering a suit of clothes to be
made for him, (but two or three inches less in size
than usual,) he pretended to put them on, but, in
seeming anger, abused the tailor for so mistaking his
measure, then, turning to a poor episcopalian present,
said, he hoped it would not offend if he requested
him to accept the suit, as he thought it would
better fit him. The dispossessed clergyman received
the present with thanks. Carstair's State-papers
were published in 1774-, by Joseph M^Cormick,
D.^D. minister of Preston-pans. He died in the
year 171'5, aged sixty-six.
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 89
3Jo§n ©mnf5.
John Dennis, well-known under the appellation
of Dennis the Critic^ was the son of a sadler, and
citizen of London, where he was born in lG57.
He received a literary education, first at Harrow-
school, and afterwards at Caius College, Cambridge.
He remained seven years at the University, and
quitting it, with the degree of M. A., made the
tour of France and Italy, which he was enabled to
accomplish by the liberality of his father and a rich
uncle, the latter of whom leaving him a small for-
tune, shortly after his return, it enabled him to form
an acquaintance with the most distinguished poets
and men of letters of the time, by whom he was
regarded as a person of knowledge and talents. He
followed no particular profession, but devoted himself
to a literary life. He endeavoured to make himself
known as a poet, critic, and dramatic writer, and
exerted himself with considerable assiduity, though
with but little success ; his poetry was turgid, heavy,
and obscure.
VOL. I. N
90 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
For the stage, he wrote both comedy and tragedy,
and appears to have had some knowledge of the
mechanism of the drama ; but his performances were,
in general, valued by the public at a much lower
rate than he himself put upon them. His tragedy,
entitled " Liberty Asserted," which became popular,
on account of the virulent abuse of the French
nation, (with which it abounded,) was of such poli-
tical consequence in his own eyes, that he imagined
Lewis XIV. would make a point, at the peace, of
having him delivered up to his resentment. Under
this apprehension, he actually applied to the Duke
of Marlborough for his good offices, when the treaty
of Utrecht was in agitation. The Duke gravely re-
marked, "that he himself had made no application for
security in the articles of peace, and yet he could not but
think he had done the French king almost as much
harm as Mr. Dennis had done.'^ Another time, being
upon a visit to a friend, who lived on the coast of
Sussex, he saw a ship making towards land, when,
taking it into his head that this was a French vessel
come to seize him, he exclaimed, that he was be-
trayed, and made the best of his way to London,
without taking leave of his host.
When his " Appius and Virginia," was performed,
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 91
Dennis, to augment the terror of the scene, invented a
new species of thunder, more sonorous and alarming
than that before in use, and which, indeed, was so
well approved as to be employed to the present
day. His tragedy soon disappeared from the stage ;
but Dennis soon after heard his own thunder at the
performance of Macbeth. " SMeath,^^ cried he,
" how these rascals use me ! they will not let my
play run, yet they steal my thunder.'^
His last tragedy, entitled " Coriolanus, or the
Fatal Resentment,'^ altered from Shakespeare, caused
him entirely to break with the managers. After
three representations to poor houses, another play
was given out for the next night. Dennis was
equally surprised and enraged. He published his
tragedy, with a dedication to the Duke of Newcastle,
in which he states his case, charging the " three in-
solent actors," who were managers,* with a con-
spiracy against him, and against genius in general,
and assuming the most ludicrous self-consequence.
Dennis was a sour, morose, and ill-natured man ;
his irritable temper often involved him in personal
Booth, Wilks, and Gibber.
N 2
92 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
disputes with men greatly his superiors, among whom
were Addison and Pope ; and, though his attacks
upon them were not without some foundation of
reason and plain sense, yet they shewed great insen-
sibility to poetical beauty, and much coarseness of
animosity.
His jealousy of a successful rival provoked him,
notwithstanding his Whiggism, to publish some
very severe strictures on Addison's Cato, but they
did not deprive Cato of a single admirer, notwith-
standing they might prove that it was not a perfect
piece. Still less could his home-spun criticism
injure such an exquisite fancy-piece as the Rape of
the Lock ; yet Pope, as irritable as himself, thought
proper to give him a niche in the Dunciad ; and further
persecuted him with a very laughable " Narrative of
the Deplorable Phrensy of Mr. John Dennis." It
is probable that the acrimony of the critic's temper
was heightened by the narrowness of his circum-
stances. The private fortune he possessed seems
soon to have been spent.
Through the favor of the Duke of Marlborough,
he obtained the place of a land-waiter, at the Custom-
house, which his extravagance obliged him in a few
years to sell, with the reservation of an annuity for
ANNE] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 93
a certain term; this he outlived, so that he was
totally unprovided for the necessities of old age.
He was obliged to secure his person, by residence
within the verge of the court, and his quiet was
continually disturbed by the fear of bailiffs.^ When
he was far advanced in years, and afflicted with loss
of sight, a play was acted at the Hay-market for his
benefit, to which his old antagonist. Pope, wrote a
prologue. This act of generosity would have been
more to the poet's credit, had he not written his
prologue in a style of ironical ridicule upon the old
critic. Thomson, who took the most active part in
the charity, was complimented in Dennis's name,
with some elegant lines, said to be written by
Savage. The veteran did not long survive this
kindness, dying in his seventy-seventh year, 1734.
* Straying a little beyond the rules of the court once, on the
evening of a Saturday, he saw a person, with an ill-favored coun-
tenance, near him; with dismay and trembling he waited till
the clock had struck twelve, when he exclaimed, "I value you
not now, whether bailiff or not." The gentleman, who had
caused his alarm, understanding for what he had been mistaken^
was with difficulty restrained, by the age of Dennis, from giving
him corporal chastisement.
94 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
WmUam IEIU0.
William Ellis was a poor half-witted fellow,
who wandered about Moorfields, and its neighbour-
hood, and was supported by the casual bounty of
passengers ; he would continually indulge himself in
talking of his Betty, who, however, resisted the
ardor of his tender addresses. Sutton Nichols, the
engraver and printseller, went to the expence of
having his portrait engraved, and Ellis was employed
by him in the disposal of his own likeness ;it
represents him sitting on the rails of Moorfields,
holding a print of Harry the raree-show-man, whom
Ellis himself greatly resembled ; the print is orna-
mented with a chaplet of laurel on the right, and a
Cupid drawing his bow on the left. Under the
chaplet is inscribed : —
" Tell her I burn with noble vestal fire ;
Tell her she's all I wish, or can desire."
And under the Cupid : —
" These lines so sweet unto my love impart.
And with them send thy arrow to her heart.''
" My muse b'ing at leasure, and the court out of town,
To write my own character I sat me down.
ANNE.]
REMARKABLE PERSONS.
Not doubting, nice critics, but you'll be so kind
As to pass by, with candor, what errors you find :
My years of minority I spent at school ;
But love, that sweet passion, my reason would rule ;
And yielding obedience to its potent sway.
The charms of dear Betty my heart stole away;
Denied having enjoyment — from pensive and sad,
I grew melancholy— at last I grew mad ;
And nothing but Betty, dear Betty, I cry'd ;
Such charms has that Phoenix, she shall be my bride:
But Bedlam became my sad portion and lot,
By loving a fair one that knew of it not."
By the two last lines it appears poor Ellis had
been an inmate in Bedlam ; but, as his passion had
not drove him desperately mad for the love of his
Betty, he was permitted to wander at large, and
picked up a maintenance by the promiscuous charity
of persons who commiserated his unfortunate situa-
tion.
m MEMOIRS OF [ANNE.
Itmra IHbaniS.
The contused jumble of dates which Mr. Noble
has set down concerning this person, would lead
one to imagine he never saw the inscription to the
portrait ; which is, " Henry Evans, born at Haber-
dam, County of Caernarvon, ^t. 104, 1710." The
reverend author remarks, several persons of the above
name have lived to great ages : — Jonathan Evans,
resident near Welch Pool, in the County of Mont-
gomery, lived to be 117 years of age; and left a
son aged ninety-one, and a daughter eighty-seven,
We cannot much wonder at the hardy sons of Wales
living more than a century, upon their mountains ;
but Mr. Henry Evans, transplanted from Cambria,
certainly resided in Spital-street, Spital-fields,
London, yet reached the still greater age of 129,
and retained all his faculties to the last. He was
seven years old when Charles I. was beheaded by
the regicides ; and this circumstance ascertains his
birth to have been in 1642, and his death to have
occurred in 1771.
m
c-^'
,
m
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i:
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i'-''.' . ■-:
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'
IIF.^KY EVA>:S,
(Bavn ir.oG.)
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSOISS. .97
But if Evans was one hundred and four years
of age in 1710, he must have been forty-two
years of age at the time of Charles's death ; and
if born, as the inscription implies, in I606, and
deceasing in 1771, according to Mr. Noble's account,
he must have lived to the great age of 165, an age
little short of Henry Jenkins.
I am inclined to think, the resident in Spital-
street, Spital-fields, and the native of Caernarvon,
were different persons. Parish certificates are some-
times made use of for deceptive purposes, as was
the case in the year 1790 ; when Donald Mac
Leod, a Scotch soldier, travelled from Edinburgh to
London, on foot, for the purpose of applying to
Chelsea Hospital for admission, or a pension for
past services ; he was accompanied by a female, of
a middle age, who passed for his wife, and they sup-
ported themselves on the road, by a certificate he
had obtained in Scotland, representing him then as in
the one hundred and second year of his age ; in person
he was athletic and healthy, and was, in truth, upwards
of seventy, but had taken his father's certificate,
(who had been a serjeant in an Highland regiment)
instead of his own. The circumstance of his ap-
parent great age and strength gained many friends,
VOL. I. O
08
MEMOIRS OF
[annh.
and two different portraits were engraved and pub-
lished for his benefit, together with his memoirs ; —
but, upon a strict enquiry, the cheat was discovered,
the consequent disappointment and vexation of which
brought the old man to the grave, in the year 1792.
•,
4 I
E_
nY''jr<,arJ,J.orAj
( (^f SaUoii.i
iNNE,J REMARKABLE PERSONS.
anftrtto dFIetc^et.
Andrew Fletcher, who was a thorough-paced
republican, has been variously represented by dif-
ferent writers, but all agree in one particular, that
is, to the violence and turbulent disposition of his
manners. He was son of Sir Robert Fletcher, of
Saltoun, in Scotland, and born in 1653, His father,
who died while he was a child, directed he should
be placed under the tuition of Dr. Gilbert Burnet,
then rector of Saltoun, from whom he imbibed his
free principles in government. He spent some
years of his youth in foreign travel, and first ap-
peared as a public character in the station of a com-
missioner for East Lothian, in the Scotch parliament,
when the Duke of York was lord-commissioner.
He distinguished himself in such a manner, by
his opposition to the measures of the court, that he
thousrht it adviseable to withdraw to Holland ; and,
o
upon his non-appearance to a summons from the
lords of the council, he was outlawed, and his estate
confiscated. In 1683 he came over to England, to
o 2
100 MEMOIRS OF [annb.
consult with some of his republican friends, but pru-
dently returned to the Continent.
In 1685, he engaged in the enterprise of the Duke
of Monmouth to dethrone James II., but was greatly
disgusted at the act of Monmouth's adherents pro-
claiming him king ; an unfortunate circumstance
occasioned his quitting that party almost as soon as
he had joined them. Fletcher having taken the horse
of a country gentleman, engaged in the same cause, on
some remonstrance by the owner, drew out a pistol,
and shot the man dead. This action excited such
resentment against him, among the friends and
countrymen of the deceased, that it became neces-
sary for the duke to dismiss him from the army,
and he made his escape from justice, by getting
on board a vessel which conveyed him to Spain,
and, fortunately for him, saved him from suffering the
fate that attended the unfortunate Monmouth and
his deluded followers.
He is said to have undergone many hazards in
Spain ; but, at length, he made his way intoHungary,
where he engaged in the war against the Turks. —
But his restless disposition suffering him to rest no
where long, brought him back to join in the confe-
rences which were held among the Scotish refugees
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 101
in Holland, for the purpose of effecting a revolution;
and, when that event took place, he returned to
Scotland, and resumed the possession of his estate,
and held it by his own law, without asking leave of
king or parliament. Jealousy of kings, indeed,
seems to have been wrought into his very nature, and
he thought it was scarcely possible to provide to o
many securities against their love of absolute sway.
In his own disposition he was arbitrary and tyran-
nical, and in one of his discourses on the affairs of
Scotland, he proposes a provision for the poor, by
DOMESTIC SLAVERY.
Mackay, in his Memoirs, drew the following
character of him while living: — " He is a gentleman,
steady in his principles, of nice honor, with abun-
dance of learning ; brave as the sword he wears, and
bold as a lion ; a sure friend, but an irreconcileable
enemy ; would lose his life readily to serve his
country, and would not do a base thing to save it.
His thoughts are large as to religion, and could never
be brought within the bounds of any particular sect;
nor will he be under the distinction of Whig or
Tory, saying, " these names are only used to cloak
the knavery of both parties." It is, however, evi-
dent that Fletcher was not so brave as Mackay
102 MEMOIRS OF [axne.
supposed ; nor was he accurate, when he said, that
" he would lose his life readily to serve his country,
but would not do a base thing to save it.'^ He
exiled himself from Scotland, when he should have
stayed ; and fled to a ship, after he had committed a
murder. ■ ■' "
If his most particular friend, however high in rank,
accepted an office under government, from that
moment he was his enemy ; apologies only added to
his violence and obloquy. He talked and wrote
against all bodies of men. Had the law taken its
proper course, he must have died as a malefactor, for
his unprovoked enormity at Taunton. One of his
servants wishing his dismissal, he asked, " Why do
you leave me? '^ — " Because I catmot bear your
temper" — " / am passionate^ hut my passion is no
sooner on than it is off !^^ — " But then. Sir, it is no
sooner off than it is on"
Bishop Burnet, in noticing Andrew Fletcher, gives
him the following character: — " A gentleman of a
fair estate in Scotland, attended with the improve-
ment of a good education, he has written some ex-
cellent tracts, but not published in his name ; and
has a very fine genius ; is a low, thin man, brown
complexion, full of fire, with a stern, sour look, and
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
!03
fifty years old.^' Dean Swift calls him, " A most
arrogant, conceited pedant in politics ; cannot endure
the least contradiction in any of his visions or para-
doxes/'
Andrew Fletcher died at London, in 1716.
104 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
©aniri 30rfoe*
Daniel Defoe, the son of a butcher, was born
at London, about the year 1663, the father's name
was James Foe, and why the son prefixed the De to
the surname does not appear.'^
Daniel received his education at Newington-green,
and early displayed his attachment to the cause of
liberty and Protestantism, by joining the ill-advised
insurrection under the Duke of Monmouth, in the
west ; and he had the good fortune to escape, and
* In a pamphlet, intituled " The Life and Strange Surprising
Adventures of Mr. D de F , of London, hosier, who
has lived above tifty years by himself, in the kingdoms of North
and South Britain. The various shapes he has appeared in, and
the Discoveries he has made for the Benefit of his Country."
The author makes De Foe to say, he always hated the English,
and took a pleasure in depreciating and villifying of them, wit-
ness his True-born Englishman ; and that he changed his name
merely to make it sound like French. The subject of the tract
is a dialogue between De Foe, Robinson Crusoe, and his Man
Friday. London, 1719.
BAN IE J., 'I,)E FOE,
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PER.^ONS. 105
return unnoticed to London. He early imbibed a
taste for literature, and wrote a political pamphlet
before his twenty-first year. With the business of a
writer, he joined that of a trader, and was first en-*
gaged as a hose-factor, and afterwards as a maker of
bricks and pantiles, near Tilbury-fort ; but his com-
mercial schemes proved unsuccessful, and he became?
insolvent. It is to his credit that, after having been
released from his debts by a composition, he paid most
of them in full, when his circumstances were
amended. The first of his writings which excited
the public attention was " The True-born English"
man." Its purpose was to furnish a reply to those
who were continually abusing King William and
some of his friends as foreigners^ by shewing that
the present race of Englishmen was a mixed and
heterogenous breed, scarcely any of which could lay
claim to native purity of blood. His "Shortest Way
with the Dissenters, or Proposals for the Establish-
ment of the Church ;'^ became a subject of complaint
in the House of Commons, and was voted a sedi-
tious libel, and burnt by the common hangman, and
a prosecution was ordered against the publishers.
Defoe at first secreted himself, but upon the appre-
hension of his printer and bookseller, he came
VOL. 1. p
106 MEMOIRS OF [annk.
forward, in order to secure them, and stood his trial ;
was convicted, and sentenced to fine, imprison-
ment, and the pillory. He underwent the infamous
punishment with the greatest fortitude, and so far
from being ashamed of his fate, that he wrote " A
Hymn to the Pillory." Pope, who thought fit to in-
troduce him in his Dunciad, characterises him in the
following line : —
Earless on high stood unabash'd Defoe.
By this it should seem the barbarous custom of
cutting off the ears of libellers was still practiced.
It was generally thought he was treated with un-
reasonable, and unmerited severity, and, at last, ob-
tained his liberation from Newgate by the interpo-
sition of Harley, afterwards Earl of Oxford ; and
the Queen herself compassionating his case, sent
money to his wife and family. He continued, after
he had regained his liberty, to write upon political
subjects, and in 1706, he published, by subscription,
his largest piece in verse, which was "Jure Divino,"
a satire, in twelve books. It was intended to expose
the doctrine of the divine right of kings, and to
decry tyrannical government. He seems, at this
time, to have enjoyed the favor of Queen Anne, by
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 107
whom he was employed, according- to his own asser-
tion, in certain honorable, though secret, services ;
and, when the union with Scotland was projected,
he was sent by the ministers into that country, for
the purpose of rendering the measure popular.
His knowledge of commerce and revenue caused
him to be frequently consulted by the committees of
parliament there, and he endeavoured to conciliate
the good- will of the nation, by a poem, entitled
" Caledonia,^' highly complimentary to its inhabit-
ants. After the union was completed, he wrote
the history of it, in a folio volume, 1709 ; and, in
the same year, he published " The History of Ad-
dresses.'^ At this time he was living in tranquillity
and comfort at Stoke Newington.
The most celebrated of all his works, " The Life
and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe,'' appeared in
1719, and no work in any language has been more
popular. Its editions have been numberless, and
has been translated into almost all modern languages,
and continues to be a standard library book.
Defoe's success in this performance, induced him
to write a number of other lives and adventures,
which are now published collectively with his other
works. Defoe died at London, in April, 1731.
p 2
108 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
ijimti as^tmm*
This miserable, wretched, drunken object, who
was blind of one eye, used to annoy the passengers
in the streets of London, while sober, with licking
her blind eye with her tongue, which was of a most
enormous length, and thickness; indeed, it was of
such a prodigious size, that her mouth could not
contain it, and she could never close her lips, or to
use a common expression, keep her tongue within
her teeth. This wonderful feat of washing her
eye with her tongue, was exhibited with a view of
obtaining money from such as crowded around her,
and no sooner had she obtained sufficient means,
but she hastened to the first convenient liquor-shop,
to indulge her propensity in copious libations, and
when properly inspired, would rush into the streets,
with all the gestures of a frantic maniac, and roll and
dance about, until she became a little sobered, which
was sometimes accelerated by the salutary application
of a pail of water, gratuitously bestowed upon her,
by persons whose door-way she had taken possession
BL,iNi> «ra:x:s"t
ANNE] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 109
of, as shelter from the persecuting tormentings of
boys and girls who generally followed her.
UPON LADY GRANNY, IN HER SUPPOSED
GRANDURE.
" That Fools have fortune \vc may now aver.
Since Granny laughs at them y' laught at her;
So fame reports, then let no nymph despair,
Since so deform'd a wretch so well can fare;
Let none suppose her Dancing days are fled.
Who see how finely Granny's brought to bed:
Have patience, Lasses, 'till the hour approach.
And then, like Grann Y, >ou may keep your Coach.
UPON GRANNY IN HER NATIVE POVERTY.
" The scene is alter'd — Ghanny's glory.
Coach and Fortune's all a story;
Yet, tho' her honor's now neglected.
She's merry still, no wliit dejected;
Which shows that wit may be a trouble,
And only make misfortune double,
While Granny always blith and jolly,
Enjoys the pleasure of her folly."
It should seem, from the above lines, this woman
had been used, in early days, to scenes of gaiety and
splendour, but if she really had ever kept her coach,
it certainly must have been supported by other
110
MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
means than the attraction of her personal charms. — ■
Whatever she might have been in the prime of her
youth, not the least vestige of former beauty are to
be discovered in the resemblances of her, when ad-
vanced in years. There are three prints of old
Granny, one in 4to. mezzotinto, and two whole-
length engravings, the best of which is that with
the first eight lines of verses, engraved in the back-
ground of the print, and from which the second is a
copy.
J-
^ #
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 1 1 1
gol&n l^atftman*
John Hardman was a professed operator and
doctor for corns and bunnions, and, from his badge of
the king's arms, it may reasonably be conjectured
WilHam the Third's toes, at one time or other,
might be indebted for relief to Hardman's skill; the
appearance of this man, from his portrait, bespeaks
him to have been a foreigner, (probably a Dutchman,)
with whom London, during the reign of William,
swarmed ; his flowing locks of hair, and formal
curled whiskers, ear-rings, and curiously cut coat
and waistcoat, were entirely foreign, and gives him
very much the appearance of what he most likely
was, a mountebank. He found it his interest to
parade the streets in this strange attire, to attract
the notice, and engage the custom, of people afflicted
with what he undertook to cure ; — however he was
authorised, he took the liberty to wear the king's
arms, by way of a clasp to fasten his waistcoat,
and, as if that was not sufficient to distinguish him,
wore the same, hanging by a chain, adorning his
112 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
side, similar to an order of knighthood. The doctors
of medicine, apothecaries, &c. his contemporaries,
were distinguished by large wigs and gold-headed
canes, which peculiarly marked their profession even
to the early part of the reign of George the Third ;
and, it would have appeared equally singular in
a counsel to plead in court without the appendages
of wig and band, as to see a medical man enter a
sick room divested of his wig and cane. A high
sounding title has of late years been found produc-
tive in most professions ; thus, the trade of a farrier
is lost in that of a veterinary-surgeon, a barber and
tooth-drawer in that of a dentist, and a corn-cutter
in that of a chiropedist. One of the latter calling, a
Mr. Corderoy, scarcely measuring three feet ten
inches in height, is everlastingly on his feet, peram-
bulating the streets and squares at the west end of
the town, attentive to the charge and care of the
most fashionable disordered and distorted toes and
feet in the kingdom, though it is well known his
practice is so extensive, it would enable him, were
he so inclined, to set up a splendid equipage ; pru-
dential reasons are assigned as the cause of this
operator's forbearance, having a family often children
to provide for. It is really amusing to see the
ANNE.]
REMARKABLE PERSONS.
113
double use the little gentleman puts his umbrella to,
from the diminutiveness of his stature, it effectually
screens him from the pelting rain, and the adroitness
which practice has brought his hand to, in making
use of it in raising the knockers and bells, (otherwise
out of his reach) is truly amazing.
Ferdinando Lord Fairfax, the father of the parlia-
mentary general, died of a mortification in his foot, in
consequence of the unskilfulness of an operator cutting
his great toe-nail. Corn-cutters, or chiropcedists, con-
fine themselves at present in their operations to their
own houses, or the private chambers of their patients,
without proclaiming their calling to the multitude
in the open streets, and the only gentry that peram-
bulate with symbolic badges, watching for customers,
are the modern rat-catchers; who, like Hardman,
appear appareled in all the pomp and pageantry of
their vocation ; but it is very probable they shortly
will adopt a more lofty syle and title, and some la-
tinised term, to elevate them in dignity. ^
VOL. I.
114 . MEMOIRS OF [anne.
©lb Itarra,
THE RAREE-SHOW-MAN.
Old Harry had a facetious manner in describing
the contents of his Raree-show, that never failed
drawing around him crowds of auditors ; his learned
and elaborate elucidation on every subject, and
article, contained in the attractive cabinet he was
in th€ habit of exhibiting, became a source of
amusement and instruction to old and young. And
Harry contrived to make a comfortable living, at
the expence of the public, in return for the trouble
he took to furnish them with a species of entertain-
ment of an interesting nature, at a very moderate
charge on their pockets. But Poor Harry was not
without a rival in this art; Jemmy la Roche^ a fellow
of great ingenuity, had furnished himself with a
show of a similar description with Harry^s^ and with
the boldness and intrepidity of a reformer, made his
progress through town and country, laying every
neighbourhood under heavy contributions, in return
OLU liAllKY,
'.Viih ]iis Raiee Sli
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 116
for the compliment of his occasional visits ; while
Old Harry, with a modesty quite his own, was
content with the patronage and support he experi-
enced in his own immediate vicinity of Moorfields,
seldom straying beyond the boundaries of Hoxton
and Islington, and very rarely was known to travel
westward beyond Temple-bar.
Sutton Nicholls, an engraver and printseller, re-
siding in Aldersgate-street, has preserved two re-
presentations of Harry, with his raree-show; the first
a small half-sheet; the other, in the same print with
Ellis the Ideot, sitting on the rails of Moorfields.
Pierce Tempest, in his Cries of London, from drawings
by Marcellus Laroon, has given the character of Old
Harry, with his show on his back, perambulating the
streets, bawling aloud for an audience to his shoie.
Jemmy la Roche likewise was deemed of sufficient
consequence to have his likeness handed down to pos-
terity, which has been preserved by Sutton Nicholls,
in a print similar to that of Old Harry ; and Smith,
the Mezzotinto Scraper, has done a very fine print
of La Roche. These rival candidates for popularity
flourished about the year 1710.
Under the portrait of old Harry with his show,
are the following lines : —
Q 2
lia MEMOIRS OF [ANNE.
Reader, behold the Efigie of one
Wrinkled by Age; Decrepit and Forlorne,
Then what's Inscrib'd beneath his picture trace,
That shows the Man, the Picture but his Face,
His tinkling bell doth you together call.
To see his rary-show Spectators all.
That will be pleased before you by him pass.
To pay a Farthing and look through his glass.
Where every Object that it doth present
Will please your fancy, yield your mind content!
Objects as strange in Nature as in Number,
Such a vast many as will make you wonder;
That when you do look through his glass you'd swear,
That by one small sight you view'd a whole Fair
Of Monsters stranger than can be express'd.
There's Nippotate lies among the rest.
Twelve years together he has drove this trade.
And by no upstart yet has been dismaid ;
'Tis so long since he did himself betake.
To shew the Louse, the Flea, and Spangl'd Snake,
His Nippotate which on Raw flesh fed.
He liveing shew'd, and does the same now dead;
The Bells that he when Liveing always wore.
He wears about his Neck as heretofore,
Then Buy Old Harry, stick him up that he
May be remembered by Posterity."
Nippotate was a tame hedge-hog, which Harry
felt so much attachment for, as to preserve stuffed
when dead.
NICHOLAS HAMT,
'^ Tlie Great Sleeper.)
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 117
THE GREAT SLEEPER.
Nicholas Hart became the subject of general
notice and conversation, from the circumstance of a
lethargic fit, that seized him on the 6th of August,
1711, to the nth of the same month. His friends,
after having tried every means in their power to
rouse him from the dormant state he lay in, had
him conveyed to St. Bartholomew's hospital, where
he remained during the above period, without taking
the least refreshment of any kind whatever, excepting
sleep ; though several experiments were made on
his person to promote resuscitation. It appears,
however, there was a greater portion of art than
nature in this unnatural slumber; and that he had
purposely taken narcotic drugs, to produce the effect
desired, namely, to procure money to be raised for
him, by confederate knaves, as an object of charity
and commiseration. In this speculation, Mr. Hart
entirely succeeded ; and, it seems, from the symptoms
of his periodical sleeping fit, faithfully detailed by a
118 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
gentleman of Lincoln's-inn,^ that Hart slept, in
order to be maintained in ease and comfort when he
awoke, and that he gained more by his rest than
others by their industry; and, in short, wealth flowed
so fast upon him, that he obtained sufficient
to support others, besides saving his own pro-
visions, while he carried on his profitable farce !
What use Hart put the money to he had thus
raised we are not informed ; but Mr. Addison, in
* The symptoms this gentleman observed in Hart were, that
" On the first of the month he grew dull,
On the second appeared drowsy.
On the third fell a yawning,
On the fourth began to nod.
On the fifth dropped asleep.
On the sixth was heard to snore.
On the seventh turned himself in his bed,
On the eighth, recovered his former posture.
On the ninth fell a stretching.
On the tenth about midnight awaked.
On the eleventh in the morning, called for a little
small beer."
The same gentleman observes, " He believes it a very extraor-
dinary circumstance for a man to gain his livelihood by sleeping,
and that rest should procure a man sustenance, as well as in-
dustry; yet so it is, that Nicholas Hart got last year enough to
support himself for a twelvemonth ;" and adds, " he is informed
that he has had this year a very comfortable nap."
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 119
noticing the circumstance, says, "Nicholas Hart,
who slept last year in St. Bartholomew's Hospital,
intends to sleep this year at the Cock and Bottle, in
Little Britain,'' probably glancing at a similar attempt
to raise contributions on the credulous part of the
community.
Stow, in his Summaries gives an account of a still
greater sleeper than Hart, but it is to be hoped with
different views. He informs us, that " The 27th of
April, 1546, being Wednesday in Easter- week, W.
Foxlei, pot-maker for the mint in the Tower of
London,* fell asleep, who could not be wakened
* M. Brady, Physician to Prince Charles of Lorrain, gives
the following particulars of an extraordinary sleeper: —
" A woman, named Elizabeth Alton, of a healthful strong con-
stitution, who had been servant to the curate of St. Guilain»
near the town of Mons, about the beginning of 1738, when she
was about thirty-six years of age, grew extremely restless and
melancholy. In the month of August, in the same year, she
fell into a sleep which held four days, notwithstanding all possible
endeavours to awake her. At lengtii she awaked naturally, but
became more restless and uneasy than before ; for six or seven
days, however, she resumed her usual employments, until she
fell asleep again, which continued eighteen hours. From that
time to the year 1753, which is fifteen years, she fell asleep daily
about three o'clock in the morning, without waking until about
eight or nine at night. In 1754, indeed, her sleep returned to
120 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
with pricking, cramping, or otherwise, till the first
day of the next tearm, which was full xiiij daies and
XV. nights. The cause of his thus sleeping coulde
not be knowen, though the same were diligently
searched for by the physicians, and other learned
men ; yea, the king himself examined the said W.
Foxlei, who was in all points found as he had slept
but one night ; and was living till the year of our
Lorde 1587."
the natural periods for four months, and, in 1748, a tertian ague
prevented her sleeping for three weeks. On February 20, 17->'J,
M. Brady, with a surgeon, wenttosee lier. About five o'clock in
the evening, they found her pulse extremely regular ; on taking
hold of her arm it was so rigid, that it was not bent without
much trouble. They then attempted to lift up her head, but her
neck and back were as stiff as her arms. He hallooed in her ear
as loud as his voice could reach; he thrust a needle into her flesh
up to the bone ; he put a piece of rag to her nose flaming with
spirits of wine, and let it burn some time, yet all without being
able to disturb her in the least. At length, in about six hours
and a half, her limbs began to relax ; in eight hours she turned
herself in the bed, and then suddenly raised herself up, sat down
by the fire, eat heartily, and began to spin. At other times,
they whipped her till the blood came; they rubbed her back with
honey, and then exposed it to the stings of bees; they thrust
nails under her tinger-nails ; and it seems these triers of experi-
ments consulted more the gratifying their own curiosity than the
recovery of the unhappy object of the malady.
ISAAr T.11K 0:XF01ILW GrRl^n^BR.
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS, 121
SjSfaac tfit &vinmv4
This man, who resided at Oxford, having by
nature an extreme ordinary physiognomy, turned it
to the best account in his power, by making it still
more disgusting, and set up the trade of a public
grinner, and was in his way allowed to be master
of a great deal of original grimace : it is still the
custom, in many parts of the country, particularly at
fairs, to have a grinning-match through a horse-collar,
which is by many thought to be adding a whimsical
frame to an ugly picture. Isaac was not the original
inventor of this elegant art, but he brought it to more
perfection than most of his predecessors, or subse-
quent successors. The public are generally indulged
in these genteel sights by several performers, who
are stimulated to excel by the prize of a gold-laced
hat, gloves, stockings, garters, or other articles of
trifling value. The practice is much commended by
Mr, Addison, in the Spectator, and, as a personal
accomplishment, he thinks it far more agreeable than
burning the mouth with eating hot hasty-pudding,
VOL. I. R
ItJt MEMOIRS OF [ANNE.
or running in a sack over hillocks, or a ploughed
field, or vaulting to seize the suspended soap-la-
thered goose, plunging the head into a tub of water
with the hands tied behind, to catch with the teeth
the floating oranges or apples that elude the nimblest
bite, or any other ingenious invention, to provoke a
laugh.
About thirty years since, Mr. Astley, of the am-
phitheatre, Westminster-road, engaged an Italian
buffoon, who appeared under the title of the cele-
brated grimacier, and distorted his face into thirty
different characters, totally dissimilar one with another ;
the salary of this man was ten pounds per week.
Isaac of Oxford was thought of sufficient conse-
quence to have his likeness handed down to pos-
terity, and the print has been said very much to re-
semble him.
JOHN KEILIKG5
f idias Blind Jack. )
ANNE.] RE3IARKABLE PERSONS. 123
alias
BLIND JACK.
The streets of London, in the reigns of Queen
Anne, George the First, and Second, were infested
with all sorts of paupers, vagabonds, impostors, and
common adventurers; and many, who otherwise
might be considered real objects of charity, by their
disgusting manners and general appearance in public
places, rather merited the interference of the parish
beadles, and the discipline of Bridewell, than the
countenance and encouragement of such persons as
mostly congregate around common street-exhibitions.
One-eyed Granny and Blind Jack were particular
nuisances to the neighbourhoods in which the first
practiced her mad-drunk gambols, and the latter his
beastly manner of performing on the flageolet. —
John Keiling, alias Blind Jack, having the misfor-
tune to lose his sight, thought of a strange method
to insure himself a livelihood. He was constitu-
tionally a hale, robust fellow, without any complaint,
R 9
124
MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
saving blindness, and having learnt to play a little
on the flageolet, he conceived a notion that, by
performing on that instrument in a different way to
that generally practiced, he should render himself
more noticed by the public, and be able to lay
larger contributions on their pockets.
The manner of Blind Jack's playing the flageolet
was by obtruding the mouth-piece of the instrument
up one of his nostrils, and, by long custom, he could
produce as much wind as most others with their
lips into the pipe; but the continued contortion
and gesticulation of his muscles and countenance,
rendered him an object of derision and disgust, as
much as that of charity and commiseration.
The original print of John Keiling, which is a
4to. done in mezzotinto, is in the Radcliffe collection,
and very rare to be seen in any other.
E ij^v^A^R o :ki :^ ci ,
(^Abel Uopcr's Alaii Toll
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 12&
COMMONLY CALLED TOBY.
Edward King was the son of a farrier, in High-
street, Coventry, an honest and industrious man ;
his mother was Mrs. Ruth Roper, sister to Abel
Roper, the celebrated bookseller ; his uncle, Abel,
having been very successful in trade, and probably
remembering the kindness done him in early life by
an uncle, sent for his nephew to London, and bound
him apprentice to himself as a bookseller: but soon
after, leaving off shop-keeping, and making it his
whole business to collect news for his Post-boy, he
wanted some one to attend him, and carry his copy
to the printer ; and in this capacity he employed his
nephew, who, having a remarkable cast in each of
his eyes, and a face covered with warts, was parti-
cularly noticed wherever he went. One day going
up-stairs at the Tilt-yard Coffee-house, Whitehall,
to speak with his uncle, his singular phiz attracted
the attention of Captain Drake, one of the clerks of
126 MEMOIRS OF [^nne.
the Admiralty-office, who spontaneously ejaculated,
here comes Toby; though he had never seen his
€omical face before. And, from that moment,
Edward King hardly went by any other name than
the captain's adoption to his dying day.
The post assigned him by his uncle Abel con-
tinually involved him in broils and vexation ; being
sent one evening from the Rummer-tavern, Charing-
cross, with some copy for the printer, at Northum-
berland-house he was accosted by a common street-
walker, pretty well dressed, with a how do you do,
Countryman ? says Toby, Why are you my country-
woman! Yes, answered madam, I am. So jogging
on lovingly together, says Toby, do you know Coven-
try P — Aye, very well, said she / And do you knoio
my Lady Hales P — says Toby, Aye, God bless her,
replied the pretended Coventry woman, for she is a
very good gentlewoman. So Toby could no longer
doubt of her being his country-woman. By this time
they drew pretty near to Exeter Change, and Toby
had agreed to give madam a pint of ale at the upper
end of Exeter-street ; but, as ill-luck would have it,
some of the reformers of that age, knowing the woman
to be a common strumpet, seized both her and her
gallant ; Toby, though in a fright, had the presence
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 127
of mind to run for it : But, O grievous misfortune !
Tohy was no racer, so they soon retook him, and as
flight shews guilt, these myrmidons conveyed him
and his lady prisoners to the watch-house in St.
Martin's-lane. However, to preserve his tender
reputation, which till now had been unspotted, he
resolved to send for his uncle Abel, to help him out
of his trouble, and giving a poor woman the only
two-pence he had in the world, he dispatches her to
the Rummer, but, unfortunately, Abel was gone ;
the woman being unlucky in her enquiry, Mr.
Crofts, the master of the house, had the curiosity to
enquire w^hat business she had with Mr. Roper ? — ■
"Why, says the woman, I come from his kinsman;
he is in St. Martin's watch-house, and wants to
speak with him directly." Tohtj in the watch-house,
woman ? No, no, it cannot be ; nay, replied the
woman, call him Toby^ or what you please, I do not
know his name ; but he says Mr. Roper is his uncle;
and I tell you he was brought to the watch-house
with a woman above an hour ago. Well, says the
vintner, Mr. Roper is not in the house, but an't
please God, I will go myself, and know the truth
of this matter. Accordingly he went, and finding the
messenger had not deceived him, he wrought Tohy^s
128 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
deliverance, by engaging to see him forth-coming
when sent for, which he never was.
Some time after this, Tohy being in haste, and
the evening dark, Mr. Evans, who was at that
time under-secretary to the lord-chamberlain, and
Tohy happening to come in contact, unfortunately
blundered against him, who, taking it for an assault,
called at the lodge, in Whitehall, where Tohy was
kept prisoner all night; but the next morning, his
uncle, who was acquainted with Mr. Evans, went
and told him the misfortune of his kinsman\s eye-
sight, whereupon he was discharged without paying
fees.
Sir Richard Steele was judged to be of great use
to the public by his writings, particularly with regard
to the dismantling and surrender of Dunkirk, &c.
But as it was impossible to please every body, there
appeared a pamphlet under the following title, "The
Character of Richard S le, Esq., with some
remarks. By Tohy, Abel's kinsman ; or, according
to Mr. Calamy, A. F. & N. in a letter to his god-
father. Price 6d." Now this pamphlet was not
written by Tohy, as many people imagined ; what
induced them to believe it was, they knew his uncle
had been at the charge of teaching him to translate
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 1^9
French and Dutch ; which in a year's time he did
pretty well, and in a tolerable good style ; but for
politics, he understood them no more than the
Pestle and Mortar Apothecary, or the Virtuoso Doc-
tor, that made it his business to catch butterflies,
and afterwards dissect them. The real author was
Dr. WagstafFe, Physician of St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, a very ingenious, facetious, and pleasant
gentleman, who was likewise author of that excel-
lent piece, " A Comment upon the History of Tom
Thumb."— However, when Toby was asked whether
he wrote Mr. Steele's character, he would shake his
head, squint, and say nothing.
But now, having enjoyed a profound quiet for
a considerable time, poor Toby is called out once
more to suffer. He had undertaken to print and dis-
perse a pamphlet, entitled, " An English Merchant's
Remarks upon a scandalous Jacobite V^Y^ex published
in the Post-boy, under the name of a Memorial pre-
sented to the Chancery of Sweden, by the Resident
of Great Britain." It never could be learnt where
Toby had the copy of this pamphlet; and it died a
secret in his own breast. Though the government
came very artfully into the knowledge of the Printer
and Publisher, they could never learn, by any art or
VOL, I. s
130 MEMOIRS OF [ant^et.
stratagem, who was the Author of those Remafks.
When Toby was trudging about the town to disperse
this pamphlet, a friend of his asked him, how he durst
venture to do it? O, says Toby, / disguise myself.
Disguise yourself, rephed the other. How? By
pulling my perruque on one side, answered Toby, and
flopping yny hat over my eyes. Well, it is certain,
he did this for some days before the government
knew any thing of it ; at last a preten'ded friend of
Toby's, but employed underhand by those at the
helm, came to take a night's lodging with him ; and
Toby coming home pretty much in drink, (for he
was a great lover of strong liquor,) and taking his
friend to be one of the same principles with himself,
he made no scruple of telling him in bed, that he
handed that pamphlet to the press. Thereupon the
other asked him who printed it ; ondToby told him,
the widow BeardivelL The next news heard was, that
Mrs. Beardwell and Toby were taken into custody,
upon the information of that very bedfellow of his-,
though the man always denied it. After a few days,~
the widow was admitted to bail, but poor Toby was
continued in custody, because he would not telt
where he had the copy ; and the messengei*s thought
themselves sure of this point, if they could but make
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS, 131
him drunk. They, therefore, tried the experiment,
for Toby would be as drunk as they pleased, but ia
his cups they could get no more out of him than
when he was sober, excepting, that he returned into
their laps part of the liquor, of which they had been
so liberal. Thus continuing obstinate and inflex-
ible to the last, he was kept in custody six or seven
months, at theexpiration whereof an act of indemnifi-
cation came out, and Tohy^ taking advantage of it,
escaped out of their hands.
Upon Tohy's being taken into custody, his uncle
and he parted,, and poor Tohy was forced to shift
for himself. So, to get a penny, Tohy caused the
dying speeches of Justice Hall and Parson Paul,
(two Preston rebels, hanged at Tyburn,) to be printed
pompously in a large broad sheet, with their effigies
at top, curiously engraved in copper: the design
answered so well, that Tohy got a new suit of clothes
by it, and money in his pocket ; which last being
in time pretty well exhausted, and not knowing how
to get more in an honest way, Tohy takes a trip to
Coventry^ the place of his nativity, where his father-
in-law, a farrier, gave him a kind reception, and
took a little house for him, which in a short time
was launched under the name of Toby^s Coffee-house;
s 2
132 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
and here Tohy sold strong ale, cofifee, and drams,
and entertained his friends with his squints and
conundrums. Neither, to speak truth, did he want
for encouragement, but fell at once into a very good
train of business, all the gentlemen of the city and
country, (of the Tory party,) frequented his house,
chiefly on account of his principles, but more parti-
cularly for his fidelity in standing to his text, and
not discovering the author of the Swedish pamphlet
above-mentioned ; and, observing that poor Tohy
had no sign, they thought none so fit to hang at the
door, as his own sweet phiz, which they therefore
desired Mr. Fry, who drew all their pictures, to take
upon a board of Tohyh providing ; which he did
accordingly, and hit his likeness so exactly, that he
gained a great deal of reputation by it.
When Tohy took his coffee-house, he likewise
took a wife ; the object of his love was his father-in-
law's housekeeper, who proved a very notable woman;
but he, like an imprudent man, drank hard.
His uncle generally went once a-year to visit him,
but had the mortification to see him sometimes drink
to excess. He advised him all he could against
it, but to no purpose ; at last he said, once for
all> to him, Tohy , I find you have a mind to make
ANNE.]
REMARKABLE PERSONS.
133
your wife a widow soon; I will not speak to you
any more about drinking^ and so fare you well. As
he said, so it proved, for about two months after, he
departed this mortal hfe, of the distemper called the
jaundice. So for poor Toby there was finis.
Edward King died some time about 1726.
134 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
SJam^jS 53^to^
James Poro, the son of Paul Poro, was born
at Genoa, in the year 1686, and was doomed, by
one of the sports of Nature, to drag about with him
a monstrous excrescence, which grew from his body,
having something of the form and feature of the
human kind, which possessing an independent ani-
mated nature to himself, was considered as a twin-
brother, and was as such baptized by the name of
Matthew. This unfortunate object made a show
of himself, in London, in the year 1714, and was
particularly noticed by Sir Han;: Sloane, who caused
his portrait to be painted, which is still preserved
in the British Museum. The Rev. J. Greene, of
Wilford, near Stratford-upon-Avon, gave an account
in the Gentleman's Magazine, for October, 1777? of
Lazarus Coloredo, a Genoese, who, in the reign of
King Charles the First, was publicly exhibited for
sight, with a much more perfect twin-brother, (than
that of Poro's,) which Thomas Bartholine, an accu-
rate and judicious naturalist, of the seventeenth cen-
f( in
^-^^f^^c^-^^
Li ^-w.
"^^Nj^ I.?
JAMKS FOKO,
( Born at Oiioal6B6.)
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 135
tury, and toyal professor of anatomy at Copenhagen,
saw twice; first at Copenhagen, when Coloredo was
twenty-eight years of age ; and afterwards at Basil,
in Switzerland. Bartholine noticed this deviation
of nature, and also gave a print of it in the first
volume of his " Historiarum Anatomicarum Rario-
rum, I. et 11.'^ dedicated to Frederick III. King of
Denmark, printed at the Hague, in 1654. The
*' Gentleman's Magazine" contains an engraving of
Coloredo, in the dress of the times, with a cloak
and band, boots, spurs, and sword ; his breast open,
with the monster hanging from him, whose head is
much larger than his own. In the " Philosophical
Transactions," is a description of twin-sisters, Hun-
garians, who were publicly shown in London, about
the year 1708, when they were about eight years
old. They were united behind, from the small of
the back to the parting of the legs, so that when
one went forward, the other went backward ; and
when one stooped she lifted the other from the
ground. They were very active, and one of them
talked a good deal ; they had not the sense of feeling
in common, any where but in the parts that joined.
They could read, write, and sing, veiy prettily;
they could also speak three languages, Hungarian,
136 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
High and Low Dutch, and French : and while they
were here, they learned English. Their faces were
very beautiful, and they were well-shaped ; they
loved each other with great tenderness, and one of
them dying in her twenty-second year, the other
did not long survive.
The portrait of Coloredo is engraved both by
Hollar and Marshall, and were probably given of
sold to those persons whose curiosity led them to
visit him, when in England, where he was publicly
shown, as he was afterwards in Scotland. In the
reign of James II., Sir Thomas Grantham having
purchased a negro in the West Indies, with an ex-
crescence projecting from his breast like a child,
brought him over to England, to exhibit him, but
the negro having escaped, professing himself a
christian, and being baptized, he claimed his habeas
corpus when seized, and was allowed it. It does
not appear when Poro died, or whether he returned
to his native country.
♦ ^
YOKKSHIHIG T^AIV,
'Prince Geoi-g-es Cap-Wo
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 137
PRINCE GEORGE'S CAP WOMAN.
" Amongst the Females of a modern Fame,
Nan justly does our admiration claim :
Some people yet her Sex cou'd never scan.
Five Voyages she made and passed for Man ;
At Cudgel weapons she mankind defies.
And with discourse she will them exercise ;
She hath two Races run, it is well known.
And won them both, as Luke at Bear will own,
But that so few her real sex yet knows.
Is one great sign she keeps her Leggs too close.
Then at ker skill, we need the less to wonder.
Whoe'er would Conquer Nan, must keep her under.
From the above lines, an inference is plain, that
Nan was a female virago, the counterpart of Mary
Frith, commonly called Moll Cut-purse, Ann Mills,
Hannah Snell, and other women of masculine
habits and propensities. In what capacity she made
her five voyages, we are uninformed ; but it is by no
means unlikely, in a similar way with her two co-
temporaries, Mary Read and Anne Bonny, the no-
torious female pirates. The Rev. Mark Noble
VOL. I. T
138 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
judged, from the appearance and occupation of
Nan, she was an harmless maniac, that was
suffered to go about with her wares, hats, and caps.
But that she was for a short time confined in
Bedlam ; in all probability, he formed his ideas on
this woman's character, from the sight of an imperfect
print wanting the descriptive lines, otherwise it is
not likely a reverend divine would construe cudgel-
matches, foot-races, or sea-adventures, harmless re-
creations for a female.
Her title of Cap woman to Prince George, (of
Denmark,) consort to Queen Anne, was doubtless
of her own adoption.
.^111 WII^I^IAM RKAi:i,
( Oculist I
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 139
Sir Jimtntam IXeaa.
Sir William Read was oneof those extraordi-
nary persons, who, from the lowest stations in life, by
their own perseverance, achieve both fame and for-
tune ; he was originally a tailor, or a cobler, and became
progressively a mountebank, and a quack-doctor ; and
though he could not read, he could spell well enough
to ride in his own chariot, and entertain his friends
with the greatest delicacies the season afforded, and
treat them with copious libations from golden vessels.
Impudence is the great support of the quack pro-
fession, and of that Read had an uncommon share.
A few scraps of Latin, in his bills, made the igno-
rant suppose him to be wonderfully learned ; indeed,
the very air of Oxford infused knowledge into him,
when he resided there, in his last profession ; and
in one of his addresses, he called upon the vice-
chancellor, university, and the city, to vouch for
his cures, as indeed he did upon the good people of
the three kingdoms. Blindness vanished before
him, and he even deigned to practice in other dis-
T 2
140 3IEMOIRS OF [anne.
tempers ; but he defied all competition as an oculist.
Queen Anne, and George I. honored him with the
care of their eyes ; from which, one would have
thought the rulers, like the ruled, wished to be
as dark as Taylor, his brother quack's coach-horses,
five of which were blind, because he exercised his
skill upon animals that could not complain.
Read died at Rochester, May 24, 1715; and the
next day was deposited in the cemetery of St. Ni-
cholas, in that city. After Queen Anne had knighted
Read and Dr. Hans Sloane, Mr. Gwinnet sent the
following lines, in a letter, to his beloved Mrs.
Thomas : —
" The Queen, like heaven, shines equally on all.
Her favors now without distinction fall ;
Great Read and slender Hannes, both knighted, show
That none their honors shall to merit owe.
That popish doctrine is exploded quite.
Or Ralph had been no duke,* and Read no knight.
That none may virtue or their learning plead,
This has no grace, and that can hardly read."
The most fortunate however of eye-doctors is the
present Sir William Adams, formerly a httle apothecary
* Ralph Duke of MontHgue.
ANNE.]
REMARKABLE PERSONS.
141
in Devonshire ; but luckily taking to the study of
the diseases of the eye, and making a few successful
cures, has jumped over the heads of the first ocu-
lists of the present day ; his practical success is
not diminished, by having married a lady of consi-
derable fortune. He has, beside, been lucky enough
to find a recipe for the cure of opthalmia^ and suc-
ceeded in restoring to sight, two and twenty old
Greenwich pensioners, for which the governors of
that hospital liberally made him a present of a piece
of plate, valued at five hundred guineas.
142 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
^*rt l^optt*
Abel Roper was born at Atherston, in War-
wickshire, of parents not in the most flourishing
circumstances, who, having many children to provide
for, an uncle, who was a bookseller in London, took
him home, and adopted him at twelve years of age,
and sent him to school. He took very ready to
learning, and is said to speak Greek by rote, when
he did not understand Latin. He did not continue
long at school, being bound apprentice, at the age
of fourteen, to his uncle, who then lived in Fleet-
street, but died within a year and a half after ; when
Abel was turned over to Christopher Wilkinson, of
the same trade, resident in the same street. After he
attained the age of twenty-one, he received 100/. left
him by his uncle, and the copy-rights of various
works, worth much more; and his prospects were
further improved by marrying his last master's wi-
dow. He then commenced business, by taking one
side of a saddler's shop, near Bell-yard, opposite the
Middle Temple gate ; but he afterwards removed next
ABEL ROPER
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 143
door to the Devil tavern ; — his sign was the " Black
Dog." — Those who had determined to expel James
II. from the throne, fixed upon Roper as the distri-
butor of pamphlets, written to pave the way for the
revolution, in which he was indefatigable ; and was
the original printer of the famous ballad of " Lilly-
burlero,** afterwards reprinted with a tune set by
Richard Baldwin, when it sold with wonderful rapi-
dity. At length Abel thought it of little importance
what he sold, so that he gained by it ; or whether it
was subversive of religion, morals, or the govern-
ment. His unequalled impudence^ and unmoved
countenance, carried him through many difficulties
with impunity. He published the " Post-boy," in
which he attacked the Tories, and even the Whigs,
just as he was hired. Swift threatened to be revenged
for his abuse, though he had joined in that of Marl-
borough, more hateful to him than even Roper or
his " Post-boy,'' or any other of his writings. He
published the ribaldry of Tom Brown, and libelled
Lewis XIV. besides which, he lampooned the cele-
brated women of his day, in " The Auction of La-
dies ;" and thus exposed several young persons, espe-
cially tradesmen's daughters, to ridicule and con-
tempt. The vignette affixed to this periodical paper
144 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
was a black ram, alluding to the well-known custom
of frail matrons bestriding that animal to save their
lands. But this scandalous paper, to the credit of
the public, did not extend to more than eight or nine
numbers. The unwarrantable liberties of his pen
often brought him into danger : his " News Letters
into the Country," procured him a severe reprimand
from the Earl of Nottingham, secretary of state. He
was compelled to appear before Mr. Secretary Trum-
bull, for printing Mr. Southwell's play without
licence ; before Mr. Secretary Boyle, afterwards Lord
Carlton, for some misdemeanour : and he was sum-
moned before the Lord-mayor and Court of Alder-
men, for reflecting upon the " Society for the Refor-
mation of Manners." He was afterwards prosecuted
for an obscene pamphlet, entitled " The Art of
Cuckoldom ;" but a bribe saved him from the seve-
rity of the law ; though it fell upon him for publishing
Dr. Drake^s work, who disowning it, Roper was for
a short time in the custody of a messenger. Tom
Brown attempted to cane him, for publishing Dr.
Kingston's attack upon him; but it ended in a
boxing-match, when Abel beat Tom. From enemies
they became friends, and Tom assisted him in his
'■'■ Auction of Ladies.''
iNNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 145
An obscure Frenchman, the quondam master of
the " Post Man," a writer and translator of the
lowest description, from an assistant, was at length
taken into partnership by Roper, who would not
change the title of his paper, but retained that of
the " Post Boy.-'
George Ridpath, a Scotchman, and editor of the
" Flying Post," was tried at Guildhall, for insert-
ing some scandalous reflections in his paper upon
Queen Anne, but had not the temerity to wait
in court till the jury brought in their verdict; on
the contrary, wisely retired; nor stopped, when he
was informed of the result, till he found himself
safe in Holland. Such were the editors of the " Post
Boy,^' the " Post Man," and the " Flying Post."
Abel Roper died in I716. It has been remarked
of him, that, " like many others of his brethren of the
quill, he had an excellent talent at a specious lie,
and knew how to make vice of virtue, or virtue of
vice, according as they clashed or coincided with
his party."'
It was Roper that persuaded Faithorne (the en-
graver) to erase the head of Cromwell in the eques-
trian print of him, and to substitute that of the
Prince of Orange, afterwards William IIL
VOL. I. XJ
14« MEMOIRS OF [^^n®
Bt. ^mvs ^Ai^^^ttth
Henry Sacheverel, a man whose history
affords a very striking example of the folly of party-
spirit, was the son of Joshua Sacheverel, of Marl-
borough, clerk, who died rector of St. Peter's church,
in Marlborough, leaving a numerous family, in very
low circumstances. By a letter to him from his
uncle, in 1711, it appears that he had a brother,
named Thomas, and a sister, Susannah. Henry
was put to school at Marlborough, at the charge
of Mr. Edward Hearst, an apothecary, who, being
his godfather, adopted him as his son. Hearst's
widow put him afterwards to Magdalen College,
Oxford. Here he soon distinguished himself by a
regular observation of the duties of the house, by
his compositions, good manners, and genteel beha-
viour ; qualifications which recommended him to
that society, of which he became fellow ; and, as
a public tutor, had the care of the education of
most of the young gentlemen of quality and for-
<v^::
.^^Xl
ijl 1
■
iiiiiiiiiiiiii ' ' "
^/>M=<rs
i^^^^S
■
^^^^
^Br
^apB^^W
HEXRY SAC HE VEKEI.
f Obiit 1724.)
;:i;r!"'""~n:r'n^nii;^ir-iniRniii
llllllljllliillilllillllllllliljii
ANNE] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 1 IT
tune that were admitted of the college ; and was
contemporary and chamber-fellow with Addison, and
one of his chief intimates till the time of his famous
trial.
Much has be?en said by Sacheverers enemies of
his ingratitude to his relations, and of his turbulent
behaviour at Oxford ; but these appear to have been
groundless calumnies, circulated only by the spirit
of party. In his younger years he wrote some ex-
cellent Latin poems, besides several in the second
and third volumes of the Musse Anglicanae," ascribed
to his pupils ; and there is a good one of some
length in the second volume, under his own name,
(transcribed from the Oxford collection, on Queen
Mary's death, 1695). He took the degree of M. A.
May 16, I696 ; B. D. Feb. 4, 1707; D. D. July
1, I7O8. His first preferment was Cannock, or
Cank, in the county of Stafford. He was ap-
pointed preacher of St. Saviour's, Southwark, in
1705 ; and, while in this station, preached his famous
sermons (at Derby, August 14, 1709* and at St.
Paul's, November 9, in the same year) ; and, in one
of them, was supposed to point at Lord Godolphin,
under the name of Volpone. It has been suggested,
rhat to this circumstance, as much as to the doctrines
u 2
148 MEMOIRS OF [anne,
contained in his sermons, he was indebted for his
prosecution, and, eventually, for his preferment. Be-
ing impeached b}^ the House of Commons, his trial
began February 27, 1709-10, and continued until
the 23d of March, when he was sentenced to a
suspension from preaching for three years, and his
two sermons ordered to be burnt. This prosecution,
however, overthrew the ministry, and laid the foun-
dation of his fortune. To Sir Simon Harcourt, who
was counsel for him, he presented a silver bason,
gilt, with an elegant inscription, written probably
by his friend Dr. Atterbury.
His enemies triumphed, yet dared not venture
abroad. He was disgraced by the legislature, but
tens of thousands bent as lowly before him as the
Thibetians to the Grand Lama. He went on a tour
of triumph through the country ; and was received
with splendour and respectful pomp at every place he
visited. Magistrates, in their formalities, welcomed
him into their corporations ; and his guard of honor
was frequently a thousand gentlemen on horseback.
At Bridgenorth, he was met by Mr. Creswell, at
the head of four thousand horse, and the same
number of persons on foot, wearing white knots
edged with gold, and three leaves of gilt laurel in
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 149
their hats. The hedges, for several miles, were dres-
sed with garlands of flowers, and the steeples covered
with flags. In this manner he passed through War-
wick, Birmingham, Bridgenorth, Ludlow, and Shrews-
bury, on his way to his Welch living, with a caval-
cade better suited to a prince than a priest. Ridi-
culous as this farce was, it did some good, as it
kept up the respect due to the national church, by
engaging the voice of the people at large in its
favor, and discouraging any attempts to lower or
innovate upon it, in the smaUest degree.
In the month that his suspension ended, he had
the valuable rectory of St. Andrew's, Holborn, given
him by the Queen ; and the House of Commons,
his prosecutors, ordered him to preach before them,
and thanked him for his discourse. At that time
his reputation was so high, that he was enabled to
sell the first sermon (preached after his sentence
expired on Palm Sunday) for the sum of one
hundred pounds ; and upwards of forty thousand
copies, it is said, were soon sold.
We find, by " Swift's Journal to Stella," January
22, 1711-12, that he had also interest enough with
the ministry to provide very amply for one of his
15d MEMOIRS OF [annk.
brothers ; yet, as the dean had said before, " they
hated and affected to despise him." A consider-
able estate at Callow, in Derbyshire, was soon
after left to him by his kinsman, George Sache-
verel, Esq. After this we hear little of him, ex-
cept by quarrels with his parishioners. He died
June 5, 1724 ; and, by his will, bequeathed to
Bishop Atterbury, then in exile, who was supposed
to have penned for him the defence he made be-
fore the House of Peers, the sum of five hundred
pounds.
The Duchess of Marlborough describes Sacheve-
rel as " an ignorant, impudent incendiary ; a man
who was the scorn even of those who made use
of him as a tool." And Bishop Burnet says, " he
was a bold, insolent man, with a very small measure
of religion, virtue, learning, or good sense ; but he
resolved to force himself into popularity and pre-
ferment by the most petulant railings at dissen-
ters and low-church men, in several sermons and
libels, written without either chasteness of style,
or liveliness of expression."
Whatever his character, it is evident he owed
every thing to an injudicious prosecution, which
ANNF.] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
151
defeated the purposes of those who instituted it,
and for many years continued those prejudices iu
the public mind, which a wiser administration would
have been anxious to dispel.
152 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
Saw Stvim0f)$S^^
Jane Scrimshaw is no other way recorded,
than as having lived to the advanced age of one
hundred and twenty-seven. She was the daughter
of Mr. Thomas Scrimshaw, woolstapler, and born
in London, in the parish of St. Mary-le-Bow, April
3, 16S4'. She was never married; and, when little
more than thirty years old, found a comfortable
asylum in Merchant Taylors' Alms-house, near Lit-
tle Tower-hill. Her portrait, which was taken in
April, 1711, at the Alms-house, bears an inscrip-
tion, describing her as then in a good state of health.
It appears, however, she was shortly after removed
to Rosemary-lane Workhouse, where she died, De-
cember 25, the same year. Vexation, perhaps, in
leaving the Alms-house, where she had resided
eighty years, might have accelerated her death.
Had Jane Scrimshaw kept a diary of transactions
which must have passed immediately under her
view, how many interesting particulars might have
been recorded during the reigns of eight sovereigns,
J AS K S V li 1^ 1 8 IIAl V.
ANNE.] REMARKABF.E PERSONS. 153
Elizabeth to Anne. That persons greatly advanced
in age retain their health and faculties, is evident
from proofs we daily meet with. Mr. Noble saw
a woman, named Boston, aged one hundred and
six years, who had resided fifty years in the hos-
pital at Temple-Balsal, Warwickshire ; she was tall
and upright, and, only a fortnight before her death,
she had performed her usual Saturday's task, of
carrying a pail of water, from a well at a consider-
able distance, to wash her rooms. He saw her in
the last week of her life, when she had in her
hands a large water-jug, complaining she was not
so well as usual, and therefore could not carry
the pail ; but she had used great exertion some
day before, in walking several miles to visit a
grand-daughter, which had exhausted her strength.
Elizabeth iMexander, who resided many years in
Han way-street, Tottenham-court-road, in the year
1810, when past the age of one hundred and eight,
would, when walking in the street, if looked after,
quickly turn to observe if any part of her dress
was in disorder, or accidentally soiled ; and fre-
quently has walked to Camden Town, a distance
of nearly two miles, to visit some friends who
resided there.
VOL. 1. X
154 3IEM01RS OF [anne.
gol^n tlutcl&m.
John Tutchin, a passionate party-writer in the
reign of James II., levelled so many of his political
pieces against the person and government of that
king, that, if they did not actually excite rebellion,
considerably promoted that which broke out under
the command of the unfortunate James, Duke of
Monmouth ; on the suppression of which, the se-
verity of punishment, under the direction of the
infamous Judge Jefteries, exceeded that of any pre-
ceding example. Among the many called to
account on this occasion, was John Tutchin, who
was brought to trial for the publication and circu-
lation of seditious and inflammatory writings, tend-
ing to subvert the existing government. With such
a judge as Jefferies, and in such times, a look or
nod to the Jury was sufficient ; and Tutchin was
found guilty. He was, in consequence, sentenced
to be whipped through several market-towns in the
West of England. His punishment, on this occasion,
was so very severe, that he even petitioned to be
JOHN TUTCHTI^.
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSOiNS. 156
hanged ; but that was a mercy the implacable
Jefferies, nor the vindictive James, could be brought
to grant. At the death of James, Tutchin wrote
ian invective against his memory, with more asperity
than even the severity of his sufferings could ex-
cuse. Tutchin was every way contemptible, both as
a writer and as a man ; and yet, at the Revolution,
he considered himself not only as a persecuted
patriot, but as a genius worthy to celebrate and
protect the sacred name of liberty : — not deterred
by former punishments, he continued his political
mania, and April 1, 1702, he produced a periodical
work, entitled " The Observator," which proceeded,
unnoticed and despised, until 1703, when certain
reflections appeared in some of his papers so ob-
noxious to the ministry that a proclamation was
issued, offering 100/. for apprehending him, 501.
for John How, the printer, and the same sum for
Benjamin Bragg.
Tutchin attempted poetry as well as prose, and
published a volume of poems in 1685, together with
a pastoral, entitled, " The Unfortunate Shepherd ;"
but he suffered less in his reputation as a writer
when he was whipped, than he did on this miserable
production : for his genius did not soar higher
150 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
than was necessary for the production of a common
ballad. His " Foreigners/' published in the reign
of William III. produced the "True-born English-
man ;" and his other writings, in that of Queen
Anne, contributed to change the ministry : thus we
find, that
*' Great events from little causes spring."
Several of his wTitings were burnt in Dublin, by
the hands of the common hangman ; — and, by his
petulance and scurrility, he became so odious to
the Tories, as to receive so severe a personal chas-
tisement in August, 1707, that occasioned his death
on the 23d of September following, in great distress,
at his lodgings in the Mint, Southwark, where he
had probably retired to avoid arrests, it being a
privileged place, where persons, laying under pecu-
niary difficulties, found a sanctuary against the
persecution of clamorous creditors, as well as within
the veroe of the court under controul of the board
o
of Green-cloth.*
* Tlie privilege against arrest for debt, in the Mint, had ceased
long prior to the same taking effect, as to that of the verge of the
court ; where it continued in full force until within the last forty
\ears.
ANNK.] REMARKABLE PERSOINS.
157
In some verses on his death he is called Captain
Tutchin ; at the time of his death he was but forty-
four years of age.
158 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
Sol&n Vdiltviw.
Valerius was born in the Upper Palatinate of
Germany, in the year 1667, without arms ; and,
when bereaved of his parents and friends, by death,
had no other means to depend on for a subsistence
than the exhibition of his person. He had practiced
many arts with his feet and toes, generally performed
by the hands and fingers ; and necessity had brought
them into such use, that he felt but little deficiency
in the lack of arms and hands. He travelled into
several countries, and, among others, visited England,
and at London exhibited himself, and performed all
his wonderful feats, from the year 1698-9 until 1705,
as may be seen by the various specimens of his writ-
ing, dated in the intermediate periods.
The portrait of this man, and his different postures
and performances, was engraved and published by
himself, in Holland, with Dutch inscriptions, and
must have been productive of great advantages to
J(mi^ l^AI/EMIl^S,
I Ijorii Avdtlioni Anns
• • t
► 1
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS, 159
Valerius, from the immense number of impressions
taken from the plates, which appear, from some of
the copies extant, (though in any state rare to be met
with) to have been very much worn.
It was a common custom with the persons who
visited Valerius, to give him some gratuity for a
specimen of his writing ; and, on the back of his
portrait, which belonged to the late Sir William Mus-
grave, were four lines, written by Valerius with his
toes.
The late Mr. Bindley, for upwards of forty years
a commissioner of the stamp-office, was one of the
greatest collectors of portraits of his time ; and,
among other rare articles, possessed Valerius's book
complete, with lines round the portrait (written by
himself) in the same manner as that of Sir Wil-
liam's.
Valerius wrote but very indifferently, compared
with Matthew Buckinger, whose performances in
writing and drawing were truly astonishing. A
female of the present time, (a Miss Biffin) that
annually is to be seen at Bartholomew and other
fairs round the metropolis, labouring under similar
misfortune with Valerius, works with her toes neatly
160 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
at her needle, and is very ingenious in designing and
cutting out patterns in paper.*
* A still more extraordinary person than either Valerius or
Miss Biffin, was William Kingston, who was born without arms or
hands, and resided at Ditcheat, near Bristol, an account of whom
is extracted from a letter sent to the Rev. Mr. Wesley, by a per-
son named Walton, dated Bristol, October 14, 1788.
" I went with a friend to visit this man, who highly entertained
us at breakfast, by putting his half-naked foot upon the table as
he sat, and carrying his tea and toast between his great and
second toe to his mouth, with as much facility as if his foot had
been a hand, and his toes fingers. I put half a sheet of paper
upon the floor, with a pen and ink-horn : he threw off his shoes
as he sat, took the ink-horn in the toes of his left foot, and held
the pen in those of his right. He then wrote three lines, as well
as most ordinary writers, and as swiftly. He writes out all his
own bills, and other accounts. He then shewed how he shave*
himself with a razor in his toes, and how he combs his own hair.
He can dress and undress himself, except buttoning his cloaths.
He feeds himself, and can bring both his meat or his broth to his
mouth, by holding the fork or spoon in his toes. He cleans his
own shoes ; can clean the knives, light the fire, and do almost
every other domestic business as well as any other man. He can
make his hen-coops. He is a farmer by occupation; he can milk
his own cows with his toes, and cut his own hay, bind it up in
bundles, and carry it about the field for his cattle. Last winter
he had eight heifers constantly to fodder. The last summer he
made all his own hay-ricks. He can do all the business of the
hay-field (except mowing), as fast and as well, with only his feet,
as others can with rakes and forks. He goes to the field and
ANNE] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 161
In the place of an arm, where the shoulder usually
projects, in the body of Valerius appears the figure
of a perfect thumb, and his chest, unlike most others
of his sex and nature, exhibits the appearance of the
breast of a female. His face is, likewise, remarkably
feminine.
The very rare book of A^alerius^s postures con-
tains sixteen prints, the first of which is his portrait,
inscribed —
Brachys manibus que coptus orepidus que Labored
Sine Brachys born in Palatino.
London, March the 20th, 1698-9.
Scripturaore John Valerij."
catches his horse ; he saddles and bridles him with his feet and
toes. If he has a sheep among his flock that ails any thing, he
can separate it from the rest, drive it into a corner, and catch it
when nobody else can. He then examines it, and applies a remedy
to it. He is so strong in his teeth, that he can lift ten pecks of
beans with them. He can throw a great sledge-hammer as far
with his feet as other men can with their hands. In a word, he
can nearly do as much without, as others can with, their arms.
" He began the world with a hen and chicken; with the profit
of these he purchased an ewe ; the sale of these procured him a
ragged colt (as he expressed it) and then a better; after this lie
raised a few sheep, and now occupies a small farm."
VOL. I. Y
162 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
PLATE II.
Represents Valerius heating a drum, with an inscrip-
tion in Dutch, f which is likewise under each of the
other prints) iynplying, that
*^ Whoever sees him perform this feat will be
struck with astonishment and wonder/*
PLATE III.
Playing at Cards and Dice,
" In the act of managing the cards and dice he
does not yield in dexterity to those who play with
their hands,"
PLATE IV,
Shaving himself.
®' No man who has the use of his hands would
ever think of the expedient of doing this office with
his toes."
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 163
PLATE V.
Standing erect on his left leg, holding a rapier
hettceen his great and second toe.
"In the science and art of defence, he manages
his weapon with as much skill, adroitness, and
strength as his adversary."
PLATE VI.
Standing on his left leg, balancing a chair with his
right.
" The ease and power with which he elevates and
supports the chair in the position he places it in, is
beyond what many could do with the use of their
arms and hands."
PLATE VII.
Balancing himself on a pedestal, and taking up a
dice with his mouth.
*' By the support of one foot, with the toes of the
other, he takes up various dice, and, by the assist-
ance of his teeth, he builds a little square tower
three stories in height."
Y 2
1G4 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
PLATE VIi;
Laying at full lengthy with his head on the ground^
and recovering himself by the support of his
left leg.
" The flexibility of his joints enabled him to
place himself in most extraordinary positions, and
his strength was sufficient to recover any posture at
pleasure."
PLATE IX.
Laying on his back, taking uj) a glass of liquor, and
conveying it loith his toes to his head.
" In addition to his powers in balancing his body,
it was truly wonderful to witness the ease and dex-
terity with which he took a glass, filled to the brim
with wine, and conducted it, with his toes, to the top
of his head, and balancing the same without spilling
a drop."
PLATE X.
Balancing a glass of liquor on his forehead.
" This feat he performed in a way similar to the
former, with the exception of his laying extended at
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 165
full length on a table, depending for support by the
left leg."
PLATE XI.
Standing on a stool, taking a glass of liquor from
the ground with his mouth.
" Elevated near two feet from the floor, on a stool,
with the greatest ease he bends his body, and catches
the glass between his teeth, drinks the liquor, and
turns the glass upside down.^^
PLATE XII.
Seated on a stool, with both feet he conducts a glass
of liquor to the top of his head.
" The amazing pliability of his joints rendered it
a matter of the greatest ease to Valerius to do all the
offices of the hands with his feet, and he could move
them in every direction with the utmost facility."
PLATE XIII.
Seated on a stool, and voriting with his toes.
" However niggardly nature had been in bounty
to Valerius, she made an ample compensation, in
166 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
gifting him with most extraordinary powers and
command with his feet, which he could, with the
greatest agihty, turn to all the purposes of the
hands,"
PLATE XIV.
Seated en a stool, he takes a pistol and discharges
it with his right toes.
" Long habit had brought this man's soles of the
feet into the same use as the palm of the hand ; he
could expand or contract them at pleasure ; and, if
he could not handle, he could foot a pistol, with
any one."
PLATE XV.
Seated oji a low stool, he takes up a musket, and
assisted hy both feet discharges the same.
" The weight and length of a musket must have
made this one of Valerius's most difficult perform-
ances ; yet, from the apparent ease with which he
managed it, it seems to have been equally of the
same familiar use with the rest."
ANNE.]
REMARKABLE PERSONS.
167
PLATE XVI.
Standing on the left leg, taking up his hat from the
ground with his right foot.
" It was Valerius's general mode, when his visit-
ants took leave of him, to take up his hat, which,
after placing on his head, he took off in a most
graceful manner, and bowed thanks for the honor
their visit conferred on him/'
168 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
Wtvtmiuf) ®89j&tte.
CHAPLAIN TO OLIVER CROMWELL.
Jeremiah White received a libeml education,
and was brought up at Trinity College, Cambridge,
of which house he became Fellow. In the trouble-
some time of the civil wars, Mr. White's politics led
him to join the prevailing powers, and in time pro-
cured him to be made preacher to the council of
state, and domestic chaplain to his Highness Oliver
Lord Protector. He was a very sprightly and face-
tious man, despised the cant and l^ypocrisy of the
puritanical party of his time, and was considered one
of the chief wits of the Protector's court.
Possessing all the advantages of youth, and a fine
person, he had the ambition to aspire to the hand of
Cromwell's youngest daughter, the Lady Frances.
The young lady appears by no means to have dis-
couraged his addresses, but, in so religious a court,
this gallantry could not be carried on without being,
taken notice of.
JEMEMIAIl IVHITB ,
( Clia plain, to Oliver Cromwell. )
^,.
\0
>t • i
ANNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 169
The Protector was informed of it; and, having
no inclination for such an aUiance, was so much
concerned, that he ordered the person who told him
to keep a strict look-out, promising, if he could give
him any substantial proofs, he should be well re-
warded, and White severely punished. The spy
followed his business so close, that in a little time
he dogged Jerry White, (as he was generally called)
to the lady's chamber, and ran immediately to the
Protector, to acquaint him that they were together.
Oliver, in a rage, hastened to the chamber, and
going hastily in, found Jerry on his knees, either
kissing his daughter's hand, or having just kissed
it. Cromwell, in a fury, asked what was the mean-
ing of that posture before his daughter Frances ?
White, with a great deal of presence of mind, said,
" May it please your Highness, I have a long time
courted that young gentlewoman there, my lady's
woman, and cannot prevail ; I was, therefore, humbly
praying her ladyship to intercede for me.'' Oliver,
turning to the young woman, cried, " What's the
meaning of this, hussey ? Why do you refuse the
honor Mr. White would do you ? He is my friend,
and I expect you would treat him as such." My
lady's woman, who desired nothing better, with a
VOL. I. Z
iro MEMOIRS OF [anne.
very low curtsey, replied, " If Mr. White intends
me that honor I shall not be against him." " Sayest
thou so, my lass," cried Cromwell, " call Goodwyn
— this business shall be done presently, before I go
out of the room."
Mr. White had gone too far to recede from his
proposal ; his brother parson came, and Jerry and
my lady's woman were married in the presence of
the Protector, who gave the bride five hundred
pounds to her portion, to the secret disappointment
and indignation of the enraged dupe of his own
making, but entire gratification and satisfaction of
the fair abigail, the moment they were made one
flesh, who, by this unexpected good fortune, obtained
a husband much above her most sanguine hope or
pretensions.
The Restoration deprived White of all hope of
preferment, if he refused to take the oaths, and
offered him but faint prospects if he did ; he, there-
fore, prudently chose to. remain quiescent, for he
was too pleasant a man to take up his abode in a
prison, for preaching in a conventicle.
His wit and cheerfulness gained him many friends,
— ^but he would have found himself more at home in
the palace of Charles II. than in that of Oliver. He
%NNE.] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 171
survived not only the Restoration and Revolution,
but the Union, and died in 1707, aged seventy-eight.
When the story of his marriage was mentioned
before Mrs. White, (who survived her husband) she
always simpered her assent to its truth. Jeremiah
White printed the funeral sermon of Mr. Francis
Fuller, preached by him; but his " Persuasive to
Moderation and Forbearance in Love, among the
divided Forms of Christians," was published after
his death. Others of his works were promised, but
have not yet appeared.
END OF VOL. I
W, Lewis, Printer, Finch-lane, Cornhill.
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